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“Greeks, he said, were
being subjected to “humiliation and blackmail”. “These
proposals, which clearly violate the European rules and the basic
rights to work, equality and dignity, show the purpose of some of the
partners and institutions was not a viable agreement for all parties,
but possibly the humiliation of an entire people,” he said.
“But I personally pledge
that I will respect the result of your democratic choice, whatever
that may be.”
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Greek
PM Alexis Tsipras calls referendum on bailout terms
Prime
minister returns from Brussels and tells Greece that terms offered by
creditors ‘clearly violate the European rules’
Helena Smith in
Athens
Friday 26 June 2015
23.25 BST /
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/26/greece-calls-referendum-on-bailout-terms-offered-by-creditors
Greeks, he said,
were being subjected to “humiliation and blackmail”. “These
proposals, which clearly violate the European rules and the basic
rights to work, equality and dignity, show the purpose of some of the
partners and institutions was not a viable agreement for all parties,
but possibly the humiliation of an entire people,” he said.
“But I personally
pledge that I will respect the result of your democratic choice,
whatever that may be.” The Greek parliament, in an emergency step,
would convene on Saturday so that the referendum could be called in
line with the constitution. Several ministers emerging from the
cabinet session said they would not support the “barbaric measures”
being demanded of Athens by foreign lenders.
The energy minister,
Panagiotis Lafazanis, who heads Syriza’s militant wing known as the
Left Platform, said he would support a no vote against measures that
had resulted in the widespread “misery and pillaging” of the
country since its debt crisis exploded five years ago.
The recipient of
€240bn in bailout funds – the biggest rescue programme in global
financial history – Greece has seen its economy contract by more
than a quarter, unemployment soar and poverty levels rise
precipitously under the weight of draconian budget cuts and tax
increased demanded by creditors.
“It is a
democratic decision and the Greek people are being called to give a
democratic answer. And that answer is going to be a resounding no,”
Lafazanis told Kontra TV.
“If the Greek
people say a big no, it is going to be impossible for those who wield
power not to take note unless democracy no longer exists.”
Echoing that
sentiment, the Greek finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, tweeted:
“Democracy deserved a boost in euro-related matters. We just
delivered it. Let the people decide. (Funny how radical this concept
sounds!).”
Konstantinos
Chrysogonos, a Syriza MEP, told BBC 2’s Newsnight: “It’s
obvious that the deal creditors are proposing to the Greek government
is beyond the popular mandate this government has.”
He added: “There
was probably no other way but to submit the demands of the creditors
to a referendum.”
Chrysogonos said it
was not clear yet what recommendation the government would make in
the runup to the vote. “I don’t know what the suggestion of the
government will be, whether it will be to accept or to withdraw or to
refuse the demands of the creditors. This remains to be seen. It
remains to be seen what the verdict of the Greek people will be.”
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