Greece faces "the spectre of bankruptcy" (again)

Enki

That would be Russia 2 and EU 1. Game over!

pragmatic

Well don't speak too soon, Putin is dead, or had a comma or in hiding or something.

Trollslayer

The palace coup has happened?

pragmatic

Apparently a spokesmen said he was fine, had a handshake that was 'crushing'.

Rasczak

The Greeks could "release themselves" from the Euro in an instance - simply default. It has clearly escaped your notice but all these negotiations are happening because the starting position for all relevant parties is that nobody wants Greece to leave the Euro - and that includes the Greeks themselves.

mikeybabes2

It has clearly escaped your notice that there is a difference between the Greek government,and the Greek people. I think you will find that a large section of the Greek population are not so keen on staying in - at least from he polls I have seen.

But that is pretty irrelevant, as the Greek Government  will require bailing out again and again and the Germans will not keep on doing so. Sometimes it is better to cut your losses rather than keep pouring more money in with no realistic end in sight.

It is the uncertainty of what happens with an exit occurs that drives many - the fear of the unknown.

But this will pale into insignificance when the other southern financially weak med countries start to struggle...

Rasczak

I think you are well off the mark - the pre-election polls were placing around 70% of the populace in support of staying in the Euro and that hasn't massively changed since. For example (three weeks ago):
http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2015/02/22/poll-81-of-greeks-support-syriza-in-negotiations-with-lenders/

I am quite fortunate in that my work regularly takes me to Crete so I have quite a significant exposure to their views on the subject.

Well I guess we'll see - it hasn't happened yet despite almost weekly calls by Europhobes that the end is nigh.

pragmatic

Eh?

Enki

Greece begins the game of Russian roulette, from April 8th. America, worries nasty old creditors are perhaps being too tough and begins to ponder over, "Grexit".

This Alexis Tsipras, sure knows his geopolitics he has the EU wincing as he squeezes gahoonies and winks at the Russians, while the Americans sphincter begins to tighten.

http://news.yahoo.com/greek-pm-hastens-russia-visit-amid-cash-crunch-132156883.html

mikeybabes2

The problem with gamesmanship is when others all start to play games too.