Analysis : Bruised Greek government to limp along, toughen stance with lenders

By Harry Papachristou

ATHENS | Tue Jun 25, 2013 10:23am EDT

(Reuters) - Greece's weakened coalition government is expected to survive the departure of a junior partner for now but will be forced to resist any fresh demands from its foreign lenders to prevent its tiny parliamentary majority from crumbling.

A year after coming to power, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras suffered a heavy blow when his smallest coalition partner, the Democratic Left, quit the government last week to protest the abrupt closure of state broadcaster ERT.

Greek Bonds Tumble Amid Political Uncertainty

Greek Gaming Company Intralot Postpones Bond Sale

By ED BALLARD, TOMMY STUBBINGTON and SERENA RUFFONI

The Wall Street Journal

Greek government bond prices fell sharply in thin volumes Friday to their lowest level in two months amid renewed political uncertainty, with market jitters also forcing Greek gaming company Intralot to shelve a planned bond sale.

Markets already nervous about a potential unwinding of monetary stimulus by the U.S. Federal Reserve received another jolt Friday after Greece's junior coalition government partner said it will withdraw from the government's cabinet, after a deadlock over the shutdown of the state broadcaster.

Greece Faces Fresh Threats

By NEKTARIA STAMOULI And GABRIELE STEINHAUSER

The Wall Street Journal

Greece's shaky coalition government was hit Thursday with a double blow as talks over the shutdown of the state broadcasting company threatened to fracture the government and new worries over the financing of the country's bailout program emerged.

The breakdown in the talks sparked a threat from the junior partner in the three-party coalition to withdraw its support from the government, representing the coalition's gravest internal crisis to date.

Greece’s Coalition Government Teeters Over Broadcaster Impasse

By Marcus Bensasson, Tom Stoukas & Paul Tugwell - Jun 21, 2013 3:28 AM GMT+0300

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras may be set to lose a coalition partner over his closure of the country’s state broadcaster ERT, heightening concern about his government’s stability.

A one-hour meeting late yesterday between Samaras, Pasok party leader Evangelos Venizelos and Democratic Left’s Fotis Kouvelis failed to break a deadlock over ERT, closed June 11 without the coalition partners’ consent. Kouvelis insisted on the broadcaster reopening with all of ERT’s 2,600 employees, while Venizelos accepted a proposal by Samaras for fewer workers, according to statements by the three leaders after the meeting.

UPDATE 2-Troika concludes Greek bailout review, next aid tranche soon – source

Sat Apr 13, 2013 3:09pm EDT

* EU/IMF conclude Greek bailout review of reform progress

* Eurogroup, IMF likely to discuss deal in May

* Greece to wrap up talks with troika by Monday night

By Annika Breidthardt and Renee Maltezou

DUBLIN/ATHENS, April 13 (Reuters) - An inspection team of international lenders has finished its review of Greece's austerity programme, paving the way for another 10 billion euros aid payment, a source with knowledge of the talks said on Saturday.

Greece to stay in recession for 6th year, 2013 draft budget shows

The Washington Post

By Associated Press, Published: October 1

ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s brutal recession is set to extend into a sixth year in 2013, when the economy will contract by another 3.8 percent, according to forecasts in the draft budget submitted to Parliament on Monday.

Greece Looks for More Budget Cuts

September 20, 2012, 10:37 AM

The Wall Street Journal

By Alkman Granitsas

As Greece’s coalition leaders meet Thursday on what is likely to be their penultimate meeting before signing off on billions of euros worth of budget cuts demanded by the troika (another meeting may come Sunday), the countdown clock is ticking loudly in Athens.

Greeks Hit Blocks in Bid to Name Government

The Wall Street Journal

By COSTAS PARIS and ALKMAN GRANITSAS

ATHENS—Greek politicians hit new roadblocks in their race to name an interim administration, tempering optimism that the country's main parties would name a new government by Monday.