Euclid Tsakalotos

Greece's radical new leaders hope to win Rome's support at talks on Feb. 3 in their bid to renegotiate a massive 240-billion-euro ($270 billion) bailout following encouraging remarks from Prime Minister Matteo Renzi who said Europe must abandon austerity.
 

Greece's new leaders on Feb. 2 embarked on a diplomatic campaign to win backing for a renegotiation of a 240 billion euro ($270 billion) bailout, winning support from US President Barack Obama but a stark warning from Britain.
      

Greece named hardline leftwing economist Yanis Varoufakis as finance minister Jan. 27, handing him the pivotal task of renegotiating the debt-stricken nation's bailout with international creditors after it voted overwhelmingly to reject years of austerity politics.
      

Parties in the newly elected Greek government formed by left-wing SYRIZA and right wing ANEL have agreed to firmly oppose the austerity measures regarding the country's imminent debt payments.

The coalition has reiterated its willingness to renegotiate the EUR 240 B Greek debt.

"Unrealistic to expect Greece to repay debt"

ATHENS -- It is "unrealistic to expect Greece to repay its huge debt in full," Euclid Tsakalotos, the chief economics spokesman for Syriza has told the BBC.