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Bomb Explodes Outside Greek Central Bank Bomb Explodes Outside Greek Central Bank
(about 2 hours later)
ATHENS — A large car bomb exploded outside Greece’s central bank Thursday morning, shaking buildings for blocks around but causing no injuries.ATHENS — A large car bomb exploded outside Greece’s central bank Thursday morning, shaking buildings for blocks around but causing no injuries.
The blast came hours before Greece was scheduled to return to international bond markets for the first time since 2010, when the government accepted multibillion-euro bailouts from international creditors in exchange for austerity conditions that have left many Greeks struggling financially. The blast came hours before Greece was scheduled to return to international bond markets for the first time since 2010, when the government accepted multibillion-euro bailouts from international creditors in exchange for austerity measures that have left many Greeks struggling financially.
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who more than any other leader in Europe is associated with fiscal austerity, is scheduled to travel to Athens on Friday to meet with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and is expected to affirm that the Greek government is on the right economic path.Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who more than any other leader in Europe is associated with fiscal austerity, is scheduled to travel to Athens on Friday to meet with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and is expected to affirm that the Greek government is on the right economic path.
On Wednesday, around 20,000 demonstrators gathered near the Parliament building to protest tax increases and spending cuts, and to decry the bond issue as irrelevant for most Greeks.On Wednesday, around 20,000 demonstrators gathered near the Parliament building to protest tax increases and spending cuts, and to decry the bond issue as irrelevant for most Greeks.
No one claimed responsibility for the bomb, but two news outlets received warning calls shortly after 5 a.m. Some offices in the central bank were being used by representatives of Greece’s so-called troika of lenders, the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the European Central Bank. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bomb, but two news outlets received warning calls shortly after 5 a.m. Some offices in the central bank were being used by representatives of Greece’s so-called troika of lenders, the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the European Central Bank.
The blast shattered windows, leaving intact only two wheels and the axle of the car.The blast shattered windows, leaving intact only two wheels and the axle of the car.
Mr. Samaras is trying to burnish Greece’s image at a time when international investors are starting to believe the long-running European debt crisis may be over. He has hailed the bond sale, in which Greece plans to offer around 2.5 billion euros, or about $3.47 billion, in five-year notes, as a success story reflecting optimism that Greece and other euro zone countries have turned a corner.Mr. Samaras is trying to burnish Greece’s image at a time when international investors are starting to believe the long-running European debt crisis may be over. He has hailed the bond sale, in which Greece plans to offer around 2.5 billion euros, or about $3.47 billion, in five-year notes, as a success story reflecting optimism that Greece and other euro zone countries have turned a corner.
“The evident target of the attackers is to change this image, and change the agenda,” Simos Kedikoglou, the government spokesman, said on a morning television news program. “We will not allow the attackers to achieve their aim.”“The evident target of the attackers is to change this image, and change the agenda,” Simos Kedikoglou, the government spokesman, said on a morning television news program. “We will not allow the attackers to achieve their aim.”
The bond offering also comes ahead of pivotal local elections in Greece in May that coincide with elections for the European Parliament in which Mr. Samaras’s New Democracy party faces a challenge from the leftist Syriza party and from the far-right Golden Dawn group, whose appeal has grown among Greeks weary of the austerity measures.The bond offering also comes ahead of pivotal local elections in Greece in May that coincide with elections for the European Parliament in which Mr. Samaras’s New Democracy party faces a challenge from the leftist Syriza party and from the far-right Golden Dawn group, whose appeal has grown among Greeks weary of the austerity measures.
The already-charged political scene has heated up further in recent weeks with the emergence of a new party called the River, which has quickly garnered support in public-opinion polls, presenting another test for the government.The already-charged political scene has heated up further in recent weeks with the emergence of a new party called the River, which has quickly garnered support in public-opinion polls, presenting another test for the government.
A successful bond offering would be a morale-booster, analysts said. Mr. Samaras has already pledged to return around two-thirds of a €2.5 billion primary surplus — which does not count debt payments — to the hardest-hit Greeks before the elections. A successful bond offering would be a morale booster, analysts said. Mr. Samaras has already pledged to return around two-thirds of a €2.5 billion primary surplus — which does not count debt payments — to the hardest-hit Greeks before the elections.
Given the political risks, analysts have questioned why Greece is trying to raise money through financial markets now, when it can tap its creditors’ loans at an interest rate of around 3 percent, while the bonds are likely to command rates above 5 percent. Given the political risks, analysts have questioned why Greece is trying to raise money through financial markets now, when it can tap its creditors’ loans at an interest rate of around 3 percent, while the bonds are likely to command rates of more than 5 percent.
“Financially, it’s not clear this makes sense,” Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, a research fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, said Wednesday. “Politically, it makes lot of sense, because Mr. Samaras wants to have this done before the election to prove they are making progress.”“Financially, it’s not clear this makes sense,” Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, a research fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, said Wednesday. “Politically, it makes lot of sense, because Mr. Samaras wants to have this done before the election to prove they are making progress.”
Militant groups in Greece have frequently set off bombs near symbolic targets or taken other steps to convey an anti-government message. Militant groups in Greece have frequently set off bombs near symbolic targets or taken other steps to convey an antigovernment message.
Security around Mrs. Merkel’s visit is expected to be tight, with the center of Athens locked down and helicopters patrolling. Security around Ms. Merkel’s visit is expected to be tight, with the center of Athens locked down and helicopters patrolling.