Main Opposition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras met yesterday with the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) David Lipton at the IMF headquarters in Washington D.C. during his five-day visit to the USA.

Also present in the meeting was the Head of the IMF mission to Greece Poul Thomsen. "They had a constructive and sincere discussion on the economic challenges that Greece is facing" an IMF official said after the meeting.

On his part, Tsipras had the opportunity to outline to the IMF leadership his objections to the involvement of the Fund in Greek domestic politics, stressing that "the Greek programme is not at risk by democracy. Democracy can provide a way out." In addition, Tsipras addressed yesterday an event at Columbia University in New York, focusing on the major problem of unemployment.