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| Alexis Tsipras and His Syriza Party Clash as Greece Faces Another Deadline | Alexis Tsipras and His Syriza Party Clash as Greece Faces Another Deadline |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| ATHENS — As another deadline for approving a package of creditor-mandated measures approached late on Wednesday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and rebellious members of his leftist Syriza party have begun taking shots at one another in public. | |
| Parliament must approve a package of financial and judicial changes to keep negotiations on track for the bailout of 86 billion euros, or about $94 billion. | |
| It has been clear since the first vote on the measures last week that a significant faction of Mr. Tsipras’s party is frustrated with his leadership on the debt crisis, with about a quarter of his party voting against the first package of measures in Parliament last week. | |
| The disagreement had largely played out behind closed doors and without rancor as Mr. Tsipras tried to persuade his dissenting party members, most of whom belong to the hard-line faction known as the Left Platform, to support him. | The disagreement had largely played out behind closed doors and without rancor as Mr. Tsipras tried to persuade his dissenting party members, most of whom belong to the hard-line faction known as the Left Platform, to support him. |
| On Tuesday night, however, Mr. Tsipras, perhaps recognizing that he was making little headway, seemed to take the first shot, as those close to him let it be known that he had said that the hard-liners were “hiding behind the safety of his signature.” | On Tuesday night, however, Mr. Tsipras, perhaps recognizing that he was making little headway, seemed to take the first shot, as those close to him let it be known that he had said that the hard-liners were “hiding behind the safety of his signature.” |
| On Wednesday morning, the hard-liners shot back. A lengthy critique of Mr. Tsipras’s performance was posted on Iskra.gr, considered the voice of the Left Platform, taking Mr. Tsipras to task for a number of issues, including the absence of a contingency plan when he negotiated with creditors. | On Wednesday morning, the hard-liners shot back. A lengthy critique of Mr. Tsipras’s performance was posted on Iskra.gr, considered the voice of the Left Platform, taking Mr. Tsipras to task for a number of issues, including the absence of a contingency plan when he negotiated with creditors. |
| In Brussels, Pierre Moscovici, the European commissioner for economy, said at a daily news conference that formal talks with Athens on granting a third bailout had begun, and that they could be completed during the second half of August. | In Brussels, Pierre Moscovici, the European commissioner for economy, said at a daily news conference that formal talks with Athens on granting a third bailout had begun, and that they could be completed during the second half of August. |
| Asked about a decision by Athens to postpone legislation overhauling pensions and taxes on farmers, Mr. Moscovici suggested that those laws could wait. He said that passage by the Greek Parliament of other changes would represent good progress and would be sufficient to keep the bailout talks on track. | Asked about a decision by Athens to postpone legislation overhauling pensions and taxes on farmers, Mr. Moscovici suggested that those laws could wait. He said that passage by the Greek Parliament of other changes would represent good progress and would be sufficient to keep the bailout talks on track. |
| The measures before Parliament on Wednesday would streamline court procedures, which are notoriously slow here, and save billions of euros. The legislature is also being asked to adopt some European banking regulations that would, among other things, guarantee depositors’ savings up to €100,000. | The measures before Parliament on Wednesday would streamline court procedures, which are notoriously slow here, and save billions of euros. The legislature is also being asked to adopt some European banking regulations that would, among other things, guarantee depositors’ savings up to €100,000. |
| The measures that were approved last week called for higher taxes and cuts in pensions, and many of those who voted against them, including Mr. Tsipras’ former finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, have said they would vote no again. | The measures that were approved last week called for higher taxes and cuts in pensions, and many of those who voted against them, including Mr. Tsipras’ former finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, have said they would vote no again. |
| But until recently, the tone of the argument was gentle. Many dissenters argued that they still supported Mr. Tsipras, despite their opposition to some of the bailout terms, and that they wanted to stay in government. | But until recently, the tone of the argument was gentle. Many dissenters argued that they still supported Mr. Tsipras, despite their opposition to some of the bailout terms, and that they wanted to stay in government. |
| But officials close to Mr. Tsipras said he considered such an arrangement unworkable and would be willing to call new elections to remove the rebels from office. | But officials close to Mr. Tsipras said he considered such an arrangement unworkable and would be willing to call new elections to remove the rebels from office. |
| On a morning radio news show, the new government spokeswoman, Olga Gerovasili, said it was possible that a split in the Syriza party might be unavoidable. | On a morning radio news show, the new government spokeswoman, Olga Gerovasili, said it was possible that a split in the Syriza party might be unavoidable. |
| She did hold out hope, however, that Mr. Tsipras had made progress with at least some party members. “In this vote, things are better,” she said. “It’s not impossible that support for the government will be larger.” | |
| The blog post criticizing Mr. Tsipras questioned why he did not nationalize banks and why he kept paying Greece’s debts even as the country’s creditors were not disbursing funds, leaving it effectively broke in June before crucial negotiations. | The blog post criticizing Mr. Tsipras questioned why he did not nationalize banks and why he kept paying Greece’s debts even as the country’s creditors were not disbursing funds, leaving it effectively broke in June before crucial negotiations. |
| “When did the prime minister really realize there is no alternative?” the blog post said. “If he knew from the start, why did he not sign a much lighter deal in February?” | “When did the prime minister really realize there is no alternative?” the blog post said. “If he knew from the start, why did he not sign a much lighter deal in February?” |
| Although the bills are likely to be approved easily with votes from nearly all the parties in Parliament, that did not stop legislators from blaming one another for the dire economic straits. | Although the bills are likely to be approved easily with votes from nearly all the parties in Parliament, that did not stop legislators from blaming one another for the dire economic straits. |
| As the debate over the bill began, opposition members blamed the government for a failed negotiation, and members of Syriza fought back. “Not all of us are the same,” said one member, Socrates Famelos. “We have departed from our principles to save Greece, that you destroyed.” | As the debate over the bill began, opposition members blamed the government for a failed negotiation, and members of Syriza fought back. “Not all of us are the same,” said one member, Socrates Famelos. “We have departed from our principles to save Greece, that you destroyed.” |