08/06 – Juncker loses patience with Tsipras as Merkel concedes difficulties in resolving Greek crisis

Many newspapers report that despite Angela Merkel’s efforts to avoid this situation and although it was not on the agenda of the summit, the Greek issue is “on G7 leaders’ minds”. La Razón reports that US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel seized on the occasion of the G7 summit that started Sunday in the German region of Bavaria to discuss the Greek crisis. Both leaders reached the conclusion that Greece needs reforms to put the country on the path of long-term sustainable growth.

However, the Greek government “chose to dramatise” the issue before the summit started, Le Figaro states. Saying that Athens was not pleased with its creditors’ compromise proposal would be “an understatement”, Les Echos‘ Catherine Chatignoux explains: over the weekend, several Greek ministers “virulently” denounced the creditors’ “unwillingness” to reach a fair agreement.

Lefigaro.fr reports that Greece is determined to reject the latest proposals of the European Union to avoid a default; despite the diplomatic efforts made by François Hollande and Angela Merkel, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis even said that the document presented to the Greek Prime Minister was “bordering on an insult.” Besides, Alexis Tsipras, who has been facing strong opposition from his own party for his appearing willingness to cross a number of “red lines” to reach an agreement, warned against the “devastating consequences” the proposal would have for his country.

Les Echos reports on Greece’s European partners’ “incomprehension” after the Greek rejection of their proposal. The Greek PM failed to present EC President Juncker with an alternative proposal, which left the latter “visibly disappointed,” even “irritated” according to some sources. Earlier in the morning, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had come out of his reserve and accused Athens of lying to the Greek parliament over the last creditors’ proposal for a deal, Expansión and The Guardian report.

“To stay friends, there must be a minimum of rules,” he said, inviting Alexis Tsipras to rapidly present alternative proposals – possibly before a summit of European and Latin American leaders in Brussels on 10 June. Firm yet willing to compromise, President Juncker’s “negotiating efforts” and stance received support from other leaders, Le Figaro reports. Several media note that President Obama called for a compromise between Greece and its European partners to prevent market volatility.

In a commentary in Corriere della Sera, Giuseppe Sarciva claims that it is unlikely that Greece will repay its debt by the end of June, while many note that the dispute between Greece and its lenders “is likely to enter a critical phase this week.” Many media report that Alexis Tsipras held a telephone conversation on Saturday with Angela Merkel and François Hollande on the difficulties raised in the negotiations over the Greek debt, but that President Juncker refused to speak with Mr Tsipras, “because no progress had been made”.

Several articles note that Mr Tsipras is to meet with François Hollande and Angela Merkel on Wednesday in Brussels to try and find a compromise. The INYT says that Alexis Tsipras will have to choose between “saving his country and sticking with a bankrupt far-left ideology”. “If he is smart, he can secure a few more concessions from creditors and a goodish deal for Greece. If not, he will drag the country into the abyss,” the newspaper adds.