Referendum: the Greeks to the polls to a decisive vote – Les Echos

“Oxi” or “Nai” … The Greeks go to the polls on Sunday to vote for or against the bailout “new money against reforms” developed by the creditors of Greece to a referendum which could pave the way for a possible exit from the country of the euro area after five years austerity. Polling stations opened at 4 am GMT (7:00 Greece, France 6 hours) and will close at 16 pm GMT. The first official projections should be available from 18h GMT.

“Should we accept the agreement plan submitted by the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB ) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the Eurogroup of 25 June? “, that is the question that must meet nearly 10 million Greeks. Against a background of high tension between Athens and the Europeans, and fear of a financial collapse, the polls did not reveal a clear trend on the eve of the elections that will be observed in all Western capitals .

The Greeks appear divided between supporters of the “no” (“Oxi”) advocated by the prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, who called to refuse a “humiliation” and supporters of the “yes” (“Nai”), convinced that “Grexit” would be worse than the continuation of a fiscal austerity program.

The key statements around Sunday’s vote

& gt; “No one can ignore the determination of a people” ( A. Tsipras)
& gt; “Greece, I hope we will solve the problems because it creates a general instability. As you know, the economy really dislike instability. So it may have repercussions, does not measure the consequences today “ (Pierre Gattaz, president of Medef)
& gt; “Greece: if not win, it will resume discussions” (Emmanuel Macron, Economy Minister)
& gt; “It is therefore evident that the day after [the referendum, Ed], we will get back to talking. The first to know precisely Angela Merkel “ (Matteo Renzi, president of Italy)
& gt; “If not happening, Greece exits the euro, it is obvious” (Xavier Bertrand, candidate for the primary right in 2016)
& gt; “If [Greece] said” No “, it will have to introduce another currency after the referendum because the euro will not be available as a payment” (Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament)

“An atmosphere of fear”

For creditors and European partners a victory of the “no” would open the way to an exit of Greece from the euro area and would affect all financial markets. “Sunday, we must send a message of democracy and dignity to the whole world” , said Alexis Tsipras before tens of thousands of supporters before the end of the campaign.

After voting, looking relaxed in a white shirt and gray trousers, the Greek prime minister said that “no one could ignore the message of determining a people to take its destiny in its hands “

.

Les Echos