International creditors hope for a united grand coalition in the Greek government, especially between the Syriza and the New Democracy party, who are going neck to neck in the upcoming September 20 elections.
As Greece's general election looms in on Sunday, the nation's international creditors express their desires to have Syriza and the New Democracy party merge into a grand coalition and implement a tough bailout programme for the country.
Reuters write that European officials take refuge on the fact that whoever will win in the elections will implement labour, administrative, pensions, and tax reforms. Lenders require Greece to push these changes as the nation is on its final warning. The country also needs EU help to restructure its bank and remain in the euro zone.
According to one of the EU officials in the bailout talks, "There is some concern that Greece may end up with a hung parliament and a weak government, but attempts at outside influence have been consistently counterproductive in the past."
Meanwhile, it is clear that Syriza and the New Democracy party are neck and neck in the polls. According to analyst,s Syriza party is unlikely to return to power but is still possible. Business Insider reports that socialist Pasok party's new first woman leader, Fofi Gennimata, is calling for unity from the nation's leaders to improve the conditions of Greece. New Democracy leader, Evangelos Meimarakis is also insisting that Greece needs national unity among its leaders after suffering economic and political crisis for a fairly long time.
However, Star Tribute reported that left-wing Syriza leader Alexis Tsiparas is against forming an "unnatural" grand coalition government with his rivals if he wins the election.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told the European Parliament that after the September 20 elections, Greek leaders should "Stand by their word and deliver on the agreement - whoever governs."
To recall, after Tsiparas rejected the bailout terms offered in July, EU leaders pressured Greeks to vote "yes" to the deal or else it will be out of the euro and plunge into economic oblivion. The warnings backfired as "No" votes dominated the ruling.
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