Greek PM to miss EU summit
- 12 years ago
Just days before the EU's summit meeting on Greece's bailout plan, the country's new prime minister and incoming finance minister are both hospitalised.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras underwent eye surgery on Saturday and the incoming finance minister was hospitalised on Friday after experiencing intense abdominal pain and dizziness.
Samaras, who is said to be in good condition, is expected to leave the hospital on Monday.
Greece's foreign minister and outgoing finance minister will attend the meeting in their stead, to ask for the terms of the 130 billion euro bailout to be loosened.
The unexpected turn of events forced the postponement of a visit to Athens on Monday by officials from the EU, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Samaras' coalition government, sworn in last week, has called for the renegotiation of the bailout, which is keeping Greece from bankruptcy, but at the cost of harsh economic suffering.
The government faces a stern test at the two-day EU summit, with euro zone paymaster Germany particularly resistant to giving Athens any leeway.
Sarah Sheffer, Reuters
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras underwent eye surgery on Saturday and the incoming finance minister was hospitalised on Friday after experiencing intense abdominal pain and dizziness.
Samaras, who is said to be in good condition, is expected to leave the hospital on Monday.
Greece's foreign minister and outgoing finance minister will attend the meeting in their stead, to ask for the terms of the 130 billion euro bailout to be loosened.
The unexpected turn of events forced the postponement of a visit to Athens on Monday by officials from the EU, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Samaras' coalition government, sworn in last week, has called for the renegotiation of the bailout, which is keeping Greece from bankruptcy, but at the cost of harsh economic suffering.
The government faces a stern test at the two-day EU summit, with euro zone paymaster Germany particularly resistant to giving Athens any leeway.
Sarah Sheffer, Reuters