Greece’s shaky coalition is readying changes to a crucial bill needed to unlock release of a delayed nine billion euros ($12.43 billion) from international lenders, hoping to persuade a handful of rebellious lawmakers from the ruling parties to drop their objection to extending the shelf life of fresh milk.
That tiny issue could kill the bill and even threaten the government unless Prime Minister and New Democracy Conservative leader Antonis Samaras, and his partner, PASOK Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos, can convince a few Members of Parliament from their parties to go along with it.
The Troika of the European Union-International Monetary Fund-European Central Bank insisted on the milk provision to make Greece more competitive but the dissenting MPs say it will hurt Greece’s dairies, which have been accused of colluding to set prices. It is expected that by March 27 the final legislation, which will be crammed into three articles, will be ready.
New Democracy MP Iordanis Tziamtzis told Mega TV that he would not decide whether to back the legislation until he has seen the draft bill. Another six PASOK and ND deputies have indicated they will not back the particular reform.
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