Greece Bailout Extension

Finnish Finance Miniseter Alex Stubb said an extension was "not possible" and said a request for a new rescue programme with the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the EU's bailout vehicle, "is always dealt with through normal procedures."

Greece wants to reach a loan deal with its EU-IMF creditors by the end of May to resolve an acute cash shortage, the government said today.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel narrowly averted a far bigger rebellion last month on Greece's bailout extension among her conservatives, many more of whom would have voted 'Nein' but for her finance minister's powers of persuasion, lawmakers said.

Greece's new anti-austerity government will put before parliament early next week its first legislation tackling the "humanitarian crisis" caused by years of cuts, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Friday.

Greece secured a four-month extension of its financial rescue on Tuesday when its Eurozone partners approved a reform plan that backed down on key leftist measures and promised that spending to alleviate social distress would not derail its budget.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday asked her conservative party to back a proposed bailout extension to Greece in a parliament vote this week, said a lawmaker at the meeting.

Athens postponed, on Monday, sending a list of proposed reforms aimed at obtaining a four-month extension of its bailout lifeline until today, a Greek government source said.

On Friday, US stocks bolted to fresh records after the eurozone conditionally gave Greece a four-month debt bailout extension, easing worries over its future in the eurozone.

French President Francois Hollande today described as a "good compromise" the agreement between Brussels and debt-racked Greece for a four-month extension of its bailout.

Europe on Friday granted Greece a crucial extension to its massive debt bailout, ending weeks of tension, but at the cost of huge concessions including a commitment to spell out reforms within two days.

Eurozone finance ministers agreed Friday to extend Greece's bailout loan programme, overcoming strong German reservations, diplomatic sources said.

With its EU/IMF bailout programme due to expire in little more than a week, the government of leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras urgently needs to secure a financial lifeline to keep the country afloat beyond late March.

The nationalist partner in Greece's coalition government said on Monday that the country would not request a bailout extension in a first official reaction from Athens to an ultimatum from Brussels.

Talks between Greece and Eurozone finance ministers over the country's debt broke down on Monday when Athens rejected a proposal to request a six-month extension of its international bailout and stick to the conditions.

Leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras laid out plans on Sunday to dismantle Greece's "cruel" austerity programme, ruling out any extension of its international bailout and setting himself on a collision course with his European partners.

Finnish Finance Miniseter Alex Stubb said an extension was "not possible" and said a request for a new rescue programme with the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the EU's bailout vehicle, "is always dealt with through normal procedures."

Greece wants to reach a loan deal with its EU-IMF creditors by the end of May to resolve an acute cash shortage, the government said today.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel narrowly averted a far bigger rebellion last month on Greece's bailout extension among her conservatives, many more of whom would have voted 'Nein' but for her finance minister's powers of persuasion, lawmakers said.

Greece's new anti-austerity government will put before parliament early next week its first legislation tackling the "humanitarian crisis" caused by years of cuts, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Friday.

Greece secured a four-month extension of its financial rescue on Tuesday when its Eurozone partners approved a reform plan that backed down on key leftist measures and promised that spending to alleviate social distress would not derail its budget.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday asked her conservative party to back a proposed bailout extension to Greece in a parliament vote this week, said a lawmaker at the meeting.

Athens postponed, on Monday, sending a list of proposed reforms aimed at obtaining a four-month extension of its bailout lifeline until today, a Greek government source said.

On Friday, US stocks bolted to fresh records after the eurozone conditionally gave Greece a four-month debt bailout extension, easing worries over its future in the eurozone.

French President Francois Hollande today described as a "good compromise" the agreement between Brussels and debt-racked Greece for a four-month extension of its bailout.

Europe on Friday granted Greece a crucial extension to its massive debt bailout, ending weeks of tension, but at the cost of huge concessions including a commitment to spell out reforms within two days.

Eurozone finance ministers agreed Friday to extend Greece's bailout loan programme, overcoming strong German reservations, diplomatic sources said.

With its EU/IMF bailout programme due to expire in little more than a week, the government of leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras urgently needs to secure a financial lifeline to keep the country afloat beyond late March.

The nationalist partner in Greece's coalition government said on Monday that the country would not request a bailout extension in a first official reaction from Athens to an ultimatum from Brussels.

Talks between Greece and Eurozone finance ministers over the country's debt broke down on Monday when Athens rejected a proposal to request a six-month extension of its international bailout and stick to the conditions.

Leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras laid out plans on Sunday to dismantle Greece's "cruel" austerity programme, ruling out any extension of its international bailout and setting himself on a collision course with his European partners.