The Greek Parliament approves a referendum – Les Echos

The Greek Parliament approved no surprise in the night from Saturday to Sunday held next July 5 for a referendum for or against the proposed reforms demanded by creditors of Athens in exchange for the release new cash.

The project submitted by the Government to the ratification of the 300 members of the Vouli garnered 178 votes against 120, according to the live count of the vote, just before 03:00 morning (00:00 GMT).

In the discussion that took place previously, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was confident of victory “resounding” of which not, has said he will strengthen his country in negotiations with “institutions” (European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund).

“The Greece will not capitulate “

” The moment of truth for the creditors, the moment they will realize that Greece will not capitulate, that Greece is not not a game that’s over, “he said in a speech punctuated with references to democracy and national dignity.

” I am certain that the Greek people show up to the historical circumstances and oppose a ‘no’ to this ultimatum resounding, “added the leader of the anti-austerity leftist party Syriza.

Drawing the consequences of the surprise announcement of the referendum, the finance ministers of the European partners of Greece in the euro area have acknowledged Saturday the unilateral termination of negotiations at Athens initiative and refused to extend the current program bailout, which expires Tuesday, the day when Greece, short of cash, is supposed to reimburse € 1.6 billion to the IMF.

The turning point occurred this weekend, preventing the release of a last tranche of financial assistance, thus paving the way for a Greek default on Tuesday and could trigger an unprecedented output process of a country of the monetary union.

dangerous Initiative

The main Greek opposition parties have raised against the initiative Tsipras they deem dangerous to the future Greece.

As he had done the day before in his first reaction to the announcement of a referendum, Antonis Samaras, leader of the right-wing New Tsipras democracy and predecessor as Prime Minister, reiterated during the debate that this referendum would lead to a Greek exit from the euro zone.

“In this referendum, is not really on the agreement we will decide about is maintaining our country in the euro area, “he said.

The “Grexit” almost inevitable

A Greek exit of the Eurozone now seems almost inevitable, said Sunday the Austrian finance minister, Johann Georg Schelling.

Greece should first ask to leave the EU and then return to other countries to comment on his departure, he told the Austrian newspaper Die Presse .

“It is clear that, whatever the circumstances, no country can blackmail the European Commission and other countries of the euro zone,” said the Minister.

Source Reuters