Referendum: Europeans are urging Greeks to “yes” – Les Echos

The Greek referendum becomes European. From Paris to Berlin, from Madrid to Dublin from Rome to Brussels, all the leaders were very clear on Monday: the Greeks did not have to vote for or against a reform program, moreover unfinished, since Greece interrupted the negotiations, but for the maintenance or not of their country in the euro. Surprised by the decision without notice the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to organize a referendum on Sunday to ask the Greek people to vote “no” to “austerity program” wanted by the creditors, the capitals have abandoned the jargon and speak now “Grexit”. And then the same as Greek citizens are facing since Monday closed banks that do not pay more than 60 euros a day.

Hollande and Obama combined their efforts

“The Greek referendum is not a match between the European Commission and Tsipras, but a choice between the euro and the drachma,” Matteo Renzi said in a tweet in English. While reaching out to a final negotiation before the European aid program, Tuesday at midnight, President Francois Hollande has also recalled that the issue, fundamental, “is whether the Greeks want stay in the eurozone or if they take the risk of escape “. In the afternoon, the Elysee Palace reported a conversation between the head of state and Barack Obama agreed to “work together to promote a resumption of talks” . But no leader has suggested that a gesture of opening to facilitate a possible compromise.

Except turnaround, Europeans therefore hardly have any other choice but to wait for the outcome of Sunday vote. Coming out of a crisis meeting with leaders of political parties, Merkel blamed for the failure of negotiations with the Greek government on its own. It does not close the door to negotiations, but does not believe before the referendum: “if, for example after the referendum, the Greek Government asked for new negotiations we would oppose it naturally not” , she said, adding she had no instructions to vote to Greek citizens accountable.

Juncker entrance Battle of the referendum

Jean-Claude Juncker him instead called on Greeks to vote yes in a very personal plea. “Do not commit suicide because is afraid of death “, he begged. This eloquent entered the battle of the referendum was also a way for the Luxembourger to break Aléxis Tsipras. Until the end of last week, Jean-Claude Juncker was among the few to appear as a friend of the Greek Prime Minister, to the point of inciting criticism among the more angry against Athens countries. On Monday, after learning on Friday night in the announcement of the referendum by a message left on his answering machine while he was sleeping, it was all over. “I was disappointed at the political level and on a personal level. I really tried everything and they know it “, has he explained to reporters. His speech did not spare the Greek prime minister, charging him implicitly “insults, misunderstandings, unfinished sentences” that polluted the negotiations. So he preferred to speak directly to the Greek people: “Rejecting would mean that Greece says no to Europe” , he warned

Alexis Tsipras meanwhile, continues to play on a denial of democracy Europeans, and returns the ball in their court, arguing that capital controls result of their refusal to extend the program. “I expect immediate answer to this basic democratic request” says he has a new televised speech, accusing Jean-Claude Juncker of insincerity … The IMF wait probably Sunday before pronouncing a default. As the ECB will maintain during the week unchanged ceiling liquidity to support Greek banks.

AB and R.Ho. (In Brussels) and T. M. (Berlin)