Greek bailout negotiator snubs role as IMF go-between

A Greek bailout negotiator says she will not accept the post as the country’s next representative to the International Monetary Fund, after nearly a third of lawmakers in the governing left-wing Syriza party said they opposed the appointment.

Former World Bank employee Elena Panaritis said in a statement today that she was “unable to accept the appointment” because of the opposition within Syriza.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is struggling to reach a deal with bailout lenders to restart vital loan payouts, but also faces opposition within his own party to a potential agreement that would extend austerity measures.

In a letter to the government, 44 of Syriza’s 149 parliament members described Ms Panaritis as a “leading representative of bailout policies”.