Tsipras defends pension reform as political tension mounts

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told his party’s deputies on Friday that he believes “a large plurality” of citizens in the country acknowledge his government’s “sincere effort” on various fronts, in a bid to bolster morale in the ruling party ahead of a weekend Parliament vote on more tax hikes and a crucial pension reform bill, which aims to reduce the overall state outlay for social security.