Greek parliament authorized the referendum on the anti-crisis plan, the creditors – RBC

The meeting of the Greek Parliament

Photo: AP

The Greek Parliament voted in favor of holding a national referendum in the country, at which citizens will decide to accept or reject the terms of European lenders on financial aid to Greece, according to Reuters. The referendum to be held on July 5.

Before the vote, speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras urged Greeks to vote against “offensive” anti-crisis plan. “For lenders, the day of truth, a time when they will see that Greece is not giving up, that Greece – the game is not finished,” – he said in an address to parliament.

«I am confident that the Greeks rise above historical circumstances and say “no” ultimatum “, – he added.

On his decision to organize a national referendum Tsipras said on Saturday night, June 27. According to him, members of the Eurogroup set for Greece impossible conditions that are contrary to European values. In connection with the announced referendum in Greece, Tsipras said that he would ask for a few days to extend financial aid program, which ends on 30 June. On this day, Greece must pay to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) € 1,538 млрд.

In connection with the decision Tsipras referendum was held in Brussels on the eve of an extraordinary meeting at the level of finance ministers of the eurozone, where the parties once again tried to reach Agreement between Greece and its creditors. After the failure of negotiations the Greek Minister left the meeting, his 18 colleagues have continued to sit without him. As a result, the Eurogroup decided not to renew the program of financial aid to Greece.

The Chairman of the Eurogroup Jeroen Deysselblum, commenting at a news conference this decision, criticized the initiative of the Greek government to organize a referendum on the terms of European lenders. He stressed that the eurozone countries were aimed at to maintain the financial stability of the euro area, using all the tools at the disposal. However, he noted that “the door to any other negotiations [with Greece] open.” Deysselblum added that eurozone countries are ready, if necessary, to support Greece at the end of financial aid programs.

French Finance Minister Michel Sapen after the meeting said that no one in the Eurogroup does not want to Athens left the euro zone. He emphasized that France is ready at any time to resume talks with Greece.

For the preservation of Greece in the euro zone and expressed the head of the European Commission, Donald Tusk. “Greece is and must remain a member of the eurozone,” – he said, adding that contacts with the leaders of the euro area in order to “ensure the integrity of the 19 euro-zone countries.”