新緊縮措施讓希臘政府困頓難行

The European Union's top economic official says he expects eurozone finance ministers to sign off on the payout of $17 billion in aid for Greece on Sunday and decide on a new bailout in July. The news comes on the heels of the prime minister of Greece reshuffling his Cabinet in an effort to push through a tough austerity package that has many Greek citizens in uproar.

歐盟高級經濟官員表示，他預期歐盟區的財政部長們將在星期天批准支付對希臘的170億美元援助款，並且在7月就新的援助計劃作出決定。此前，希臘總理重組內閣，希望藉此通過一個艱難的緊縮計劃，這個緊縮計劃導致很多希臘人的騷動。

EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said Thursday the two-step approach means that the funding of the Greek debt can now be ensured until September, saving it from the immediate risk of default. But, he said, a decision on a new longer-term bailout will be delayed until July amid disagreement over the role of private investors.

歐盟經濟事務專員奧利.雷恩星期四表示，這兩個步驟意爲着，現在能確保爲希臘債務撥款到9月，以避免希臘無法支付立即需要的開支。但是奧利.雷恩說，由於私營部門對新的長期援助計劃中的角色有分歧，因此將要拖到7月才能對這個計劃作出決定。

Rehn said it was "regrettable" that the efforts to build national unity in Greece failed Wednesday, but that he still expected parliament to pass new austerity measures.

雷恩說，令人遺憾的是，希臘爲建立國家團結的努力星期三遭到挫敗，但是他仍然預期議會將通過新的緊縮措施。

On Wednesday, Greek citizens came out in the tens of thousands to protest the measures that Prime Minister George Papandreou is determined to push through parliament.

星期三，成千上萬的希臘民衆舉行示威，反對總理帕潘德里歐決心要在議會獲得通過的這個緊縮措施。

Papandreou responded by saying he will reshuffle his Cabinet and seek a vote of confidence for his new government in parliament. Papandreou added he will continue on what he called the "road of duty," together with his party members, officials, and the Greek people.

帕潘德里歐迴應說，他將重組內閣，並且要求議會對他的新政府進行信任投票。帕潘德里歐說，他會和他的政黨成員，官員以及希臘人民，繼續向他所說的[責任道路]上邁進。

His plan to reshuffle the Cabinet came on the same day that anti-austerity riots hit Athens and coalition talks with the opposition failed.

帕潘德里歐計劃重組內閣的同一天，雅典爆發了反對緊縮措施的騷亂，與反對派進行的聯合政府會談也宣告破裂。

Even some members of Papandreou's Socialist party are not behind his measures. On Thursday, two lawmakers from his party stepped down.

甚至帕潘德里歐領導的社會黨部分成員也不支持他的緊縮措施。星期四，兩名社會黨議員辭職。

In Greece, the reaction to Papandreou's policy was mixed. A recent poll carried out by a market research company called Public Issue showed the main opposition party is beating the ruling Pasok socialist party in voter support.

在希臘，人們對帕潘德里歐的政策反應不一。一個叫做[公衆議題]的市場研究公司最近所作的民調顯示，主要的反對黨比執政的泛希臘社會主義運動黨獲得更多的選民支持。Greek citizen Amalia Stinga says the prime minister is not making the effort he needs to make. She believes Papandreou is afraid. She adds that if he were not afraid, he would have done things differently.

希臘民衆斯廷加說，總理沒有盡力做到他需要的工作。她說， 帕潘德里歐瞻前顧後，如果他不怕的話，他就會有不同的做法。

Greece is in major debt and unable to pay back the money it owes. Last year, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pledged multi-billion-dollar loans in order to help Greece out of its financial troubles. But that money is conditional upon a tough austerity program.

希臘負債累累，無法償還所欠的債款。去年，歐盟和國際貨幣基金組織承諾給希臘幾十億美元貸款，以幫助希臘解決財務問題。但是，貸款的條件是希臘必須採取大刀闊斧的緊縮項目。

Simon Tilford, chief economist at the Center for European Reform, based in London, says the current political turmoil in Greece was unavoidable given the terms set by the EU and the IMF.

塞門蒂爾福特是位於倫敦的歐洲改革中心首席經濟學家。他說，歐盟和國際貨幣基金組織設下的條件使目前希臘出現的騷亂無法避免。

"What they are trying to do is almost impossible economically," noted Tilford. "The Greeks have met the terms of their fiscal austerity program. They have cut public spending by more than any other developed economy has ever done in such a short space of time. But because those public spending cuts have hit economic growth harder than the EU or the IMF thought they would, they are still in breach of their agreement."

蒂爾福特說：“他們的辦法在經濟上幾乎是無法辦到的。 希臘人已經達成了財政緊縮項目的條件。 在這麼短的時間裏，他們削減的公共支出比其他已開發國家做過得要多出很多。但是削減那些公共支出給經濟增長的打擊要比歐盟或國際貨幣基金組織預想的更爲嚴重。希臘人還是無法履行貸款協議”

Tilford adds that there is a limit to how much any country can cut spending. And right now, spending cuts are only serving to stifle the Greek economy. He calls the situation a "death trap."

經濟學家蒂爾福特說，每個國家削減開支的做法是有限度的。目前，削減開支只會讓希臘經濟窒息，他說，這種情況是個[死亡陷阱]。

"Unless there is a change of track by the EU and the IMF, further political instability is all but guaranteed," Tilford noted.

蒂爾福特說：“除非歐盟和國際貨幣基金組織改變做法，否則今後希臘的政治肯定不會穩定。”

On Thursday, world stocks hit a three-month low and the euro slumped to a one-month low.

星期四，世界股票市場下跌到3個月來的最低點，歐元則下跌到一個月來的最低價格。