Greek leaders fail to agree on pension reforms

The leaders of five of the seven parties represented in Greece’s Parliament failed to agree on pension reforms after a six-hour meeting, prompting the prime minister to criticize the opposition for being “irresponsible” and “unserious.”

Alexis Tsipras, who didn’t back moves by other governments while he was in opposition, had hoped to get the opposition parties to agree on a statement that called for no further pension cuts and present this as a bargaining chip in talks with Greece’s creditors.

Tsipras’ left-led government last summer signed Greece’s third bailout deal since 2010, agreeing to deep spending cuts, including on pensions, in return for financial assistance to keep the heavily indebted country afloat.