Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes

European officials saying no deal until Sunday's vote
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 1, 2015 9:00 AM CDT
Updated Jul 1, 2015 9:19 AM CDT
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
An employee of a bank gives directions to pensioners in Athens today.   (Thanassis Stavrakis)

Greece's government appeared to be caving a bit, by way of a two-page letter sent from Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras last night to the country's three major creditors: the IMF, European Commission, and European Central Bank. Tsipras' letter said his government was prepared to accept creditors' proposals, subject to certain amendments. Here's one, per the Wall Street Journal: that beginning the shift in retirement age to 67 by 2022 be delayed until October. Though the Washington Post reports Tsipras kept in place "most of the added belt-tightening provisions he previously dismissed," it puts the chances of a deal as "dim." Indeed, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was clear that no deal was imminent, at least not before Sunday's Greek referendum; Angela Merkel echoed that.

Creditors have fiercely opposed the referendum, and they're not alone. The Council of Europe, an independent body that monitors elections and human rights, told the AP that any such referendum would fall short of international standards. Though it has no enforcement capacity, the declaration of its chief, Thorbjorn Jagland, is seen as a major blow to the government's plan. Such standards call for at least two weeks' notice to allow for discussion, a clear question to be put to voters, and international observers invited to monitor the vote. Jagland spoke of problems with all three requirements. Greek officials hinted that any deal with creditors could cause the referendum to be canceled. Eurozone finance ministers, meanwhile, were meeting again to discuss Greece's position. (More Greece stories.)

A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
A pensioner reacts as she stands in a line outside a bank in Athens today.   (Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
A bank employee orders pensioners to form a line in numbered order outside a bank in Athens today.   (Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
An elderly woman asks for directions from a bank manager in Athens today.   (Thanassis Stavrakis)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Municipality workers prepare a ballot box for the upcoming referendum at a warehouse in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki today.   (Giannis Papanikos)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Pensioners stand in a line outside a bank in Athens today.   (Thanassis Stavrakis)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Municipality workers prepare the equipment for the upcoming referendum at a warehouse in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki today.   (Giannis Papanikos)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
A bank message is seen on an ATM's screen in Athens today.   (Thanassis Stavrakis)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Pensioners stand in a line as others, left, use the ATMs of a bank in Athens today.   (Thanassis Stavrakis)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
A pensioner stands next to an ATM at a bank as he waits for it to open in Athens today.   (Thanassis Stavrakis)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Pensioners stand in a line outside a bank in Athens today.   (Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Municipality workers prepare the equipment for the upcoming referendum at a warehouse in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki today.   (Giannis Papanikos)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Pensioners holding their line numbers try to enter a bank in Athens today.   (Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
A pensioner looks at customers who use an ATM as she sits outside a bank in Athens today.   (Thanassis Stavrakis)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Pensioners stand in a line outside a bank in Athens today.   (Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Pensioners try to get a number to enter a bank in Athens today.   (Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Pensioners try to get a number to enter a bank in Athens today.   (Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Pensioners try to get a number to enter a bank in Athens today.   (Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
A Late-Night Letter Doesn't Solve Greece's Woes
Elderly people demanding their entire pensions sit during a protest outside the Bank of Greece in Athens today.   (Daniel Ochoa de Olza)