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A special regulation in the bill of the Ministry of Employment, which has been proposed for public discussion and which may be submitted to parliament by the end of the week, provides for the freezing of aids, subsidies and VAT refunds to debtors of all insurance funds. According to sources, the measure was discussed with the Troika’s representatives who have given the green light regarding the procedures for its enforcement.

According to sources from the Ministry of Employment, it is expected that this measure will save nearly 500 million euro of the 700 million euro required to cover the deficits of the social security funds and to avoid a further reduction of pensions.

The sum of overdue payments to the insurance fund of persons exercising liberal professions alone exceeds 8.7 billion euro whereas the debts accumulated to the insurance fund of farmers (OGA) amount to 525 million euro.

In addition to this measure, the Ministry of Employment hopes to raise another 200 million euro from debtors to the National Insurance Institute (IKA) for whom the authorities have established discrepancies between the declarations submitted and the contributions paid.

"There will be a revolution"

"If we impose even half a measure there will be a revolution in Greece," a senior member of the government told the British newspaper "The Guardian" in connection with the negotiations between Greece and the Troika. "Are they blind? They are pushing us to adopt absurd policies," adds the same source who wished to remain anonymous.

The newspaper tells of the anger among the citizens of Greece due to the continued belt-tightening since, three and a half years after the outbreak of the crisis, many Greeks are feeling that they are repeatedly experiencing the same thing.

"The Guardian" notes that distrust, anger and ill-concealed panic mark again the relations between Greece and the representatives of its lenders, namely the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

A senior official stressed in Brussels, "Things are bad. It is as if we are once again in 2010!"

A report in the Austrian newspaper "Die Presse" states that "the Greek government and the Troika are a step away from a war. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras does not want to accept more cuts whereas the lenders insist on them."

It also notes that "the risk of a sovereign default is still threatening Greece. The visit of the lenders’ representatives has not resulted in clarifying the situation (...), there is disagreement on the scope of the austerity measures that Greece will have to implement." The newspaper also notes that "the second bailout will end at the end of next year. The chronically sick will need help in 2015-16 too. In this situation, a new package of financial support seems inevitable."