Tsipras: 'Absurd' offer from lenders

In a speech that Reuters calls defiant and aimed at winning parliament's support for his REJECTION of the austerity - for - aid package, Greek Prime Minister Al. Tsipras on Friday called "absurd" the terms of proposed aid from lenders. 

At the same time, according to the news agency, Tsipras balanced indignation with confidence that a deal was "closer than ever before" to keep his country inside the currency bloc. Reuters maintains that the contradictory message underscored the growing pressure on Tsipras to quickly sign a deal before cash-strapped Athens runs out of MONEY, while also trying to placate hardliners in his leftist party who oppose the terms creditors are demanding.

The LENDERS' proposal crosses many of Tsipras's 'red lines,'
including hiking taxes, privatizing strategic assets
and cutting benefits for poor pensioners. 

Snap Elections?

Although a far-left deputy minister suggested snap elections as a way out, by obtaining public legitimacy for difficult decisions to secure aid, Tsipras made no mention of elections, but he focused instead on attacking the aid plan offered by euro zone and IMF creditors.

"The Greek government cannot consent to absurd proposals," Tsipras told parliament. "I want to believe that this proposal was a bad moment for Europe or at the very least a bad negotiating trick and will soon be withdrawn by the masterminds themselves," he said.

Payment delay rattles financial markets

Athens delayed a 300 million EURO payment due to the IMF on Friday. According to the agency, it was a highly unusual step that rattled FINANCIAL MARKETS and sent Greek stocks .ATF down 5 percent but that does not yet signal a formal default.

Opinion polls published on Friday show around three out of four Greeks want to remain in the euro zone, while more want their government to accept the offer from European and IMF creditors than want it to be rejected. Syriza maintains a 13 point lead over the opposition Nea Dimokratia Party while 45% reject new elections in case of an impasse and 37% believe the exact opposite.