European Central Bank President Mario Draghi has voiced unprecedented doubts about the chances of rescuing Greece from bankruptcy as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was due to put forward last-ditch reform proposals today.
Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore quoted the ECB chief, under growing fire in Germany for keeping Greek banks afloat, as saying he was not sure a solution would be found for Greece and he did not believe Russia would come to Athens’ rescue.
Asked if a deal to save Greece could be wrapped up, Draghi told the paper as he was boarding a plane in Brussels yesterday: «I don’t know, this time it’s really difficult.»
The ECB is keeping shuttered Greek banks afloat with emergency liquidity capped until the weekend as leaders of the 19-nation euro zone race to find a last-minute third bailout for Athens.
Asked if he expected Russian President Vladimir Putin to help Greece, Draghi said: «I don’t believe so, I don’t see it as a real risk … and then, they don’t have money themselves.»
The usually discreet central banker was speaking after an emergency euro zone summit on Tuesday that gave Greece five days to come up with a credible plan to repair its public finances and reform its economy or face an economic meltdown and possible exit from Europe’s common currency.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald