Let's assume Greece and its private creditors reach a "deal". That deal is
far from the final hurdle to preventing a Greek default. According to the Wall
Street Journal:
A deal could pave the way for a second bailout package for Greece. However,
there have been fresh warnings from euro-zone governments that Greece must
improve the implementation of its austerity measures in order to get further
assistance. Mr. Rehn has said the euro zone, the European Central Bank
and International Monetary Fund may need to inject additional money for
a second Greek bailout.
Once a Greek deal is done, an assessment of whether Greece's debt is
sustainable will follow. After that, its official creditors--other euro-zone
countries and the IMF--will decide how much money is needed to fill Greece's
remaining financing needs.
The question then is how many of the €200 billion in Greek bonds
will be tendered by private bondholders. If too many hold out, then the
debt-sustainability sums won't add up. Greece has said it could then move
to force unwilling creditors to accept the bond exchange, transforming
the deal from one that could be called voluntary to a coercive default.
Germany also appears to be adding one more significant hurdle according to
the BBC:
A leaked plan from the German government proposes a eurozone "budget
commissioner" to take control of Greece's tax and spending, reports say.
The Financial Times, which has a copy of the plan, calls it an "extraordinary
extension" of EU control. Greek Education Minister Anna Diamantopoulou
called the German plan "the product of a sick imagination". The European
Commission said the budget "must remain the full responsibility of the
Greek government". A German official told the Associated Press eurozone
finance ministers were discussing the plan.
Chris Ciovacco is the Chief Investment Officer for Ciovacco
Capital Management, LLC. More on the web at www.ciovaccocapital.com.
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