The leader of Greece's center-right opposition Antonis Samaras said on Monday his New Democracy party would not vote for any new austerity plan demanded by international lenders before they provide more financial aid to Athens.
"Some say that to unblock the (8 billion euro) instalment we need to sign a joint statement with all the parties that support this new transitional government. But I will not sign such statements," Samaras said.
European leaders are demanding Greek party leaders sign a commitment to fulfil the accords reached at the EU crisis summit in October, which resolved to write off some of Greece's debt in exchange for a new austerity program, which Greece must implement in the next few years to get financial aid from international lenders and prevent a default.
The troika of international lenders comprising the IMF, the European Union and the European Central Bank agreed the sixth 8 billion euro ($11 billion) tranche for Greece to tackle its debt crisis, but it was put on hold after former Prime Minister George Papandreou proposed holding a referendum on the new bailout package. A popular vote was likely to frustrate all agreements with creditors. Papandreou later had to give up the initiative and agreed to resign.
Without loans from the EU and IMF, which have been suspended by Greece's political and economic uncertainty, Greece may default on its 360 billion euro ($495 billion) debt in the coming weeks.
