Economics
Greece's Path to New IMF Loan Grows Even Rockier Following Leak
- IMF officials discussed smaller surplus target, WikiLeaks says
- Fund has been pushing euro-area nations to offer debt relief
IMF's Lagarde: Greek Talks to Continue in Good Faith
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Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras may be alienating the International Monetary Fund just when he needs it most.
The IMF has questioned whether the goal of reaching a fiscal surplus of 3.5 percent of gross domestic product, agreed to in last year’s euro-area bailout of Greece, is realistic. In the transcript of a conference call published by WikiLeaks on Saturday, the fund’s European Department director, Poul Thomsen, suggests the IMF would accept a revised goal of 1.5 percent. Thomsen has said euro-area countries would have to offer more debt relief if the target is loosened.