At least 20,000 people demonstrated in Athens shouting: get out the troika of Greece!. EFE

• The EC, ECB and IMF demand drastic reductions

The Government and the troika prolong one day uncertainty about Greece

Athens, Greece (07/FEB/2012)-the Greek Government failed on Tuesday, one day more to close the agreement required by the “troika” formed by the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the IMF to continue receiving international financing, while during the day he reported on progress that seemed definitive.

Hellene exbanquero Lukás Papadimos Government decided to postpone until tomorrow the crucial meeting between the Prime Minister and the leaders of the parties of the Government coalition–Social Democrats, conservatives and ultra-right-which must endorse a pact that in principle should collect international demands that soar over the austerity measures.

This meeting has been postponed day after day since last Sunday, amid great excitement in international markets and the growing social unrest in Greece.

During the afternoon of Tuesday, it seemed clear that progress in the negotiations between Papadimos, and the Greek Finance Minister, Evangelos Venizelos, on one hand, and representatives of the “troika”, on the other had been.

A source of the hellene Executive assured even reached a principle of agreement, although he acknowledged that it was “only a draft” and that he could not closed “until that do not receive the go-ahead from the political leaders”.

But soon after, it was announced that he was returning to convene an extraordinary meeting of Papadimos with emissaries of the EC, ECB and IMF.

A government source consulted by EFE was limited to explain that this was due to that “some issues remain open” in bargaining and made reference to the reduction of public spending, which the Greek Government agrees to cut in 2 thousand EUR 300 million, but that the “troika” wants to be 3 thousand 300 million.

The representatives of the EC, ECB and IMF demand also drastic cuts in salaries and pensions, as well as 15,000 dismissals of officials until the end of the year, with the threat that if not ratify these measures, there will be a new loan of EUR 130 billion and not allow to proceed to the Remove of the debt agreed between Greece and private banks.

Without loan and quita, Greece will take toward bankruptcy on 20 March, when it should disburse 14 thousand EUR 400 million in maturities of debt, which now lacks.

Yorgos Karatzaferis, leader of the ultraderechista LAOS and third partner in the coalition Government, criticized today the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, accusing them of having acted with a “second Munich”, in reference to the Conference of 1938 that France and Britain compromised to Adolf Hitler’s demands.

“Greece is facing an aggressive campaign of humiliation and that the Greek Government is obliged to take that into account,” he complained.

In addition, he warned that it would not support an agreement that “is in contradiction with the Greek Constitution” and demanded that the European Parliament to decide on if the demands of the EU to Greece are in conformity with the European treaties.

A Deputy from the ruling PASOK, Jristos Magkuris, today announced that it will not vote in favour of the measures of the “troika” when they are subjected to parliamentary procedure: “I prefer poverty to the humiliation and slavery,” said.

In addition, the coalition Government is being spilled out by social pressure.

The general strike, called by mainstream unions against the demands of the “troika”, was supported by 80% of workers in the private sector and 90 per cent of public servants.

Transport, especially the maritime, as well as schools, hospitals and Government agencies were affected by unemployment.

At least 20,000 people demonstrated in the Centre of Athens shouting: “Get out Greece troika!”.

Alexis Tsipras, leader of the fifth party in Parliament, the leftist SYRIZA, said that a disorderly bankruptcy of Greece – the most feared scenario by markets and the European Union–”is an option” because, in this way, would be not only Greeks who undertake all the damage, but also “banks and Germany”.