Chancellor Angela Merkel and her minister Economy Sigmar Gabriel at the end of a press conference 29 June 2015 in Brussels – ODD ANDERSEN AFP

20 Minutes with AFP

day for nothing. On Wednesday, the Greek crisis has remained deadlocked, and nothing seems to want to unlock before Sunday’s referendum, in a showdown between Tsipras and Merkel.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras maintained his call to say no to the creditors of his country in Sunday’s poll, which the Europeans have responded by excluding any negotiations on a new aid plan by the vote.

Ministers fell to agreed to await the outcome of the planned referendum Sunday on proposals of creditors of Greece, EU and IMF, before continuing discussions on a third financial assistance plan requested by the country in default since Tuesday evening. The Eurogroup is aligned in the strongest position, that of Berlin, which refuses any discussion before the referendum.



“The ” no ” is not a break with the Europe “

In this total blocking climate, where some of the negotiators do not hide their exasperation, Alexis Tsipras addressed his country in a very vindictive televised message. “Failure does not mean a break with Europe but the return to Europe of values, not mean strong pressure” to continue the negotiations, said the Prime Minister at the head of a radical left government hostile to the austerity measures demanded by Greece’s creditors.

“It is blackmail you by pushing you to vote yes to all measures of the institutions, without any way out of the crisis” has he said at the Greek voters. For Europe, a no victory is widely seen as likely to lead to the exit of Greece from the euro area and a major crisis of European institutions.



News Greek proposals

Europeans clearly hoped another message. In the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, the Greek Government sent a letter to creditors in which he is willing to accept the reforms demanded of Athens, but by putting new conditions and asking for improvements. In return, Greece seeks new funding over two years to meet its needs, or about 30 billion euros, while restructuring its debt.

It would be his third aid plan, since the second expired Tuesday for lack of agreement at the same time that Greece did default on repayment of 1.5 billion euros to the IMF. In doing so, he became the first industrialized country to do vis-à-vis default of the institution, which wipes the largest unpaid history.

The French President Francois Hollande has held the contrary we could further “delay” agreement. “We must be clear, the agreement is now!” He said, adding he did not want “the breakup of the eurozone.”