Govt needs 350-400 mln to pay wages and pensions

Alt. Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas told private MEGA TV on Wednesday that there is a deficit of 350-400 mln euros that needs to be covered by April 27 so that the government can meet its obligations and pay salaries and pensions.

"We have a 350- to 400-mln-euro revenue deficit that needs to be covered by the end of the month in order to meet the country's needs," he said.

The government's decree for local authorities to transfer their cash to the reserves of the Bank of Greece met with opposition; however Mardas is calling on mayors to reconsider though he said that other funds are also available.