Both Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen (Nat. Coalition Party) and Minister of Finance Jutta Urpilainen (SDP) are adamant that Greece should not be allowed any leeway in obligations that have been placed on the country with respect to economic discipline.
“The conditions have been set with consideration in order to bring indebtedness under control and to reform the economy so that it reaches a level that is structurally sustainable”, Prime Minister Katainen says.
Finance Minister Urpilainen agrees with the Prime Minister.
“It would be impossible to reassess the programme in 17 countries because of Greece – that is, what has been agreed upon must be adhered to.”
Both ministers see the outcome of the elections on Sunday to be a cause for hope.
“The election result is positive in the sense that parties that are ready to commit to bringing the economy to a healthy status were successful”, Katainen said.
Urpilainen hopes that a Greek government might have been formed, and that a new prime minister would be in office in time for next week’s EU summit.
Katainen says that the crisis still exists, but the election outcome tends to reduce panic.
“Let’s hope that a Greek government will start soon, and in a responsible manner. That would ease uncertainty.”
