Reuters: Tsipras demonizes IMF to rally SYRIZA members

The leaking of a conference call of International Monetary Fund officials on Greece’s latest bailout review has undermined the trust in debt talks, embarrassed the European Commission and infuriated the IMF and Germany, says Reuters.

According to an article published by Reuters, at stake are the IMF’s reputation as an enforcer of financial rescue programs meant to make indebted states viable and the European Union’s determination to hold the euro zone together.

However, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras exploited the leak to demonize the IMF and rally Syriza members ahead of more painful sacrifices to secure the next tranche of European loans, and try to put his conservative opponents in a corner.

But, he did not managed to drive a wedge between the EU institutions and the IMF and isolate IMF Europe director Paul Thomsen.

“Each time Tsipras is going to have to compromise, he needs to create an external enemy,” said George Pagoulatos, professor of European politics and economy at Athens University.

“It’s smart domestic politics even if it is dumb diplomacy.” he added.

As Reuters claims, the leak undercut months of efforts by Tsipras and Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos to rebuild lenders’ trust after former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis stance and actions who leaked documents trying to bounce them into concessions.

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