Greece cannot pay IMF, says minister

Health sector workers staged a strike in Athens last week for funding as talks between Greece and the IMF remained deadlocked
Health sector workers staged a strike in Athens last week for funding as talks between Greece and the IMF remained deadlocked
LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/GETTY IMAGES

Greece is bankrupt and will default on a debt repayment to the International Monetary Fund that is due in two weeks, the country’s interior minister said yesterday.

The declaration comes as the left-wing government struggles to pay pensions and public sector wages, and talks between Greece and the IMF remain deadlocked.

“The four instalments for the IMF in June are €1.6 billion. This money will not be given and is not there to be given,” Nikos Voutsis said.

Without a deal to unlock eurozone loans, Greece will be unable to pay IMF bailout instalments due next month, with further payments of more than €5 billion owed to the eurozone and the fund in July.

The first repayment to the IMF of €307 million falls due