The new Greek prime minister's hopes of winning more time from creditors
to implement reforms and spending cuts face a tough test as he travels
to a deeply skeptical Germany on Friday to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras visits the chancellery a day after Merkel and French President Francois Hollande — the leaders of the 17-nation eurozone's two biggest economic powers — pressed Greece to keep pushing through painful reforms and made no mention of his hopes for more leeway.
In a charm offensive in German and French media this week, Samaras has been arguing that his nation should have more time beyond the mid-2014 deadline to complete reforms that are a condition of it continuing to receive bailout loans. Without the help, Greece would be forced into a chaotic default on its debts and could be forced out of the eurozone.
Germany's finance minister has argued that giving Greece more time wouldn't solve the country's problems, and the parliamentary caucus leader of Merkel's conservative bloc poured more cold water on the idea Friday.
A German official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the informal Merkel-Hollande talks said the leaders agreed that credibility is key to overcoming the crisis and they would underline that in meetings with Samaras.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras visits the chancellery a day after Merkel and French President Francois Hollande — the leaders of the 17-nation eurozone's two biggest economic powers — pressed Greece to keep pushing through painful reforms and made no mention of his hopes for more leeway.
In a charm offensive in German and French media this week, Samaras has been arguing that his nation should have more time beyond the mid-2014 deadline to complete reforms that are a condition of it continuing to receive bailout loans. Without the help, Greece would be forced into a chaotic default on its debts and could be forced out of the eurozone.
Germany's finance minister has argued that giving Greece more time wouldn't solve the country's problems, and the parliamentary caucus leader of Merkel's conservative bloc poured more cold water on the idea Friday.
A German official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the informal Merkel-Hollande talks said the leaders agreed that credibility is key to overcoming the crisis and they would underline that in meetings with Samaras.
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