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Tsipras softens stand on Greek debt relief before election
 [REUTERS] Outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras signaled on Wednesday he would accept an easing of Greece's huge debt burden if he wins elections expected next month without any of the write-offs he has long demanded.Tsipras, who hopes to return to power with an absolute majority, told Alpha TV that he favored longer repayment periods and lower interest rates on the debt, now that Greece has secured a new 86 billion euro ($98 billion) bailout. But in the interview, he made no mention of writing off any debt - a campaign promise when he was elected in January that Germany, the biggest contributor to Greece's three bailouts since 2010, opposes. With his radical left Syriza party split over the latest bailout, Tsipras heaped praise on his finance minister, Euclid Tsakalotos, and rejected the possibility that his ally may not even run in the election. President Prokopis Pavlopoulos is expected to call the election on Friday, probably for Sept. 20, an official at the presidency told Rooters. This follows Tsipras's resignation last week when he lost his parliamentary majority due to a rebellion in Syriza ranks over the bailout's demands. Posted by: Fred 2015-08-27 |
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