Bankruptcy is a real possibility for Greece. Does its leader have a plan?

Even Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s inner circle appeared Wednesday to be asking the question that has been on the minds of European Union leaders for months: Does he have a game plan as bankruptcy looms in his struggling Mediterranean nation?

 

The charismatic prime minister’s path toward political survival seems to be quickly narrowing. Just five months after the leftist Tsipras swept to office amid bold promises to reshape Europe’s ­debate about how to secure its economic future, his nation may be pushed off the euro if it votes Sunday against its creditors’ tough austerity demands. And if Greeks defy Tsipras by voting to take the E.U. deal, he will face heavy pressure to resign.

 

Tsipras started his Wednesday by making concessions — and ended it with defiance. In an early-morning missive to Greece’s creditors, he offered to implement most of Europe’s painful restructuring demands in exchange for a new bailout. Just hours later — and after a near-rebellion by his allies — Tsipras took to the airwaves to denounce E.U. “blackmail” and called his nation to rise up against austerity.

 

Read More: Bankruptcy is a real possibility for Greece. Does its leader have a plan? – The Washington Post