Syriza plans programme to ease 'negative' impact of Greek bailout

(ATHENS) - Greece's ruling radical left Syriza party is preparing a "parallel" programme to help ease the "negative consequences" of the tough austerity reforms that were required to obtain its latest international bailout, the government said Tuesday.

"We have obligations in this agreement (with Europe) that we are going to fulfil but we also have a parallel programme aiming to compensate for the negative repercussions (of austerity) on the most needy," said government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili in a radio interview.

She added that this programme would not interfere with the bailout agreement recently negotiated between Athens and the EU, which will provide Athens with up to 86 billion euros ($96 billion) over three years.

The move comes as Syriza prepares for a snap election as early as next month after Alexis Tsipras resigned as prime minister in the face of an internal Syriza revolt over the terms of the bailout deal, which the Greek parliament ultimately adopted.

The mutiny scuppered Tsipras' parliamentary majority and 25 of the rebels have broken away to form a rival anti-bailout group called Popular Unity.

The programme to ease the hardship on the country''s poorest from the austerity measures will be announced at the official start of an upcoming electoral campaign, Gerovassili said.