Greece gets bailout to avoid debt default
BRUSSELS — The countries that use the euro pulled Greece back from an imminent and potentially catastrophic default today, when they finally stitched together a $170 billion rescue they hope will also provide a lifeline to their common currency.
But the patchwork of measures — including the implementation of austerity measures in Greece and approval by skeptical German and Dutch Parliaments — required to give the rescue even a chance of success means it’s unlikely to be the end of the continent’s debt crisis.
European markets edged lower, having enjoyed solid gains in the run-up to the meeting on expectations a deal would be secured, while the euro rose 0.2 percent.
The finance ministers from Greece and the other 16 countries that use the euro wrangled until the early morning hours over the details of the rescue, squeezing last-minute concessions out of private holders of Greek debt.
The eurozone and the International Monetary Fund, which will be providing the money for the new bailout, hope the new program will eventually put Greece back into a position where it can survive without external support and secure its place in the euro currency union.
The accord, which had been months in the making, seeks to reduce Greece’s massive debts on all fronts, with both private and official creditors going beyond what they had said was possible in the past.
On top of the new rescue loans, Athens also will ask banks and other investment funds to forgive it some $142 billion in debt, while the European Central Bank and national central banks in the eurozone will forgo profits on their holdings.
It was clear Greece, which kicked off Europe’s debt crisis two years ago, was at the very best starting a long and painful road to recovery. At the worst, the new program would push the country even deeper into recession and see it default on its debts further down the line.
Including Greece’s first bailout worth $146 billion, the new deal means every Greek man, woman and child will owe the eurozone and the IMF about $29,000.
In Athens, the reaction to the news was a mixture of relief the country has avoided financial catastrophe and fear of the future.
“I don’t see (the agreement) with any joy because again we’re being burdened with loans, loans, loans, with no end in sight,” architect Valia Rokou said in the Greek capital.
The eurozone and Greece had been under pressure to reach an accord quickly to prevent Athens from defaulting on a $19.2 billion bond payment on March 20. The fear is that an uncontrolled bankruptcy could unleash market panic across the rest of the continent, further unsettling other struggling countries like Ireland, Portugal or the much bigger Italy or Spain.
The other 16 euro countries made clear their trust in Greece is running low.
