Tsakalotos rejects deputy minister’s Easter bonus talk

Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Tuesday denied claims by Deputy Labor Minister Tasos Petropoulos that the government was planning to pay a one-off benefit to civil servants and public sector pensioners in the form of an Easter bonus.

Speaking to radio station News247, Petropoulos had suggested that a handout was in the cards, noting that any such decision would be announced by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

The announcement reportedly caused consternation in the office of the premier, who has himself pledged a series of handouts in the countdown to elections.

However, it was Tsakalotos who rebuffed it.

"It's the first time I've heard this. Ask Mr Petropoulos," Tsakalotos retorted when asked about the deputy minister's remarks.

Commenting on the same issue, sources close to Tsipras also said there is no such plan.

Media reports have...