- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Greek Central Bank to Provide Emergency Lending as Election Looms

© Flickr / stanjourdanCentral bank of Greece
Central bank of Greece - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Uncertainty over elections and possible limits on capital as Greece attempts to renegotiate its debt are making the country's banks worried.

Ratings agency Fitch website - Sputnik International
Fitch Downgrades Greece’s Currency Rating Outlook to Negative
MOSCOW, January 17 (Sputnik) – Greece's central bank asked the European Central Bank to provide it with an emergency credit line as banks fear repercussions from the coming elections, according to Reuters.

"We have sent a request to the ECB on ELA approval for all four major banks to have a shield for the banking system," a Greek central bank official told Reuters.

The banks fear that the expected election of the far-left Syriza party, which will be looking to renegotiate the terms of Greece's bailout, could make it difficult for banks to maintain liquidity, according to the New York Times.

Political uncertainty ahead of elections led to people making mass withdrawal from banks in 2012, according to the Financial Times, a trend which could repeat this year.

Флаг Евросоюза - Sputnik International
Creditors to Discuss Progress of Reforms With New Greek Gov’t: EU Official
Syriza also intends to make it illegal for banks to seize the homes of people who fall behind on  their mortgage payments for residences valued at less than 300,000 euros ($350,000) according to the Wall Street Journal.

International rating agency Fitch warned, however, that "early elections to be held on 25 January have made the direction of Greek policymaking more uncertain" and that a possible "prolonged political deadlock" in Greece "would increase the risk of financing difficulties and a return to recession."

Greece decided to hold snap parliamentary elections on January 25 after the country's parliament failed to elect a president in the third and final round of voting on December 29, 2014, and was subsequently dissolved.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала