NICOSIA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Barring unforeseen developments, Cyprus parliament is set to reject at a meeting on Tuesday a Eurogroup demand for a levy on bank deposits as part of a bailout plan for the eastern Mediterranean island.
President Nicos Anastasiades has reportedly told German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Union (EU) commissioner for economic affairs Olli Rehn that the current line up in parliament is overwhelmingly against the law imposing the levy.
Government spokesman Christos Stylianides told the state radio that Anastasiades briefed them on the situation. He told them that he was ready to stand by an agreement with the Eurogroup last week but he insisted that EU partners offer some additional help.
Stylianides did not clarify what would be additional help.
The Eurogroup had originally decided to impose a levy of 6.75 percent on all bank deposits in Cypriot banks below 100,000 euros (130,000 U.S. dollars) and of 9.9 percent on deposits above that mark.
The Eurogroup revised this decision following widespread anger at the plan to slash small deposits, which are guaranteed under law by the government. (1 euro = 1.30 U.S. dollars)
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