EU/IMF sell-off idea infuriates Athens

In what Elfetherotypiadescribes as another "tragicomic" development in the Greek debt saga, the EU and the IMF announced on 11 February that the country will have to privatise 50 billion euros worth of state assets, including 15 billion by 2015, instead of the 7 billion euros initially foreseen as a condition of the country’s bailout package. “Ports, airports, beaches, electricity, trains will all have to sold as quickly as possible,” complains the left-wing daily. In response to the ensuing public outcry, the Greek government described the demands as unacceptable. However, according to the newspaper, the latest development highlights "the difficult position of the government and the problem posed by issues of internal communication. The government has been slow in responding, while everyone is aware that we are fast approaching a situation in which more drastic measures will be required.”