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In addition to the Green Left Weekly report and text of Tsipras' 1am speech on Greek television, both at link below provided by Stuart, here are five current reports in three English language Greek news media sources (link at second one, from Greek Reporter, gives text of the last creditors' proposal that Syriza expects will be voted on) - 1) Greece to Hold Referendum on Bailout Agreement by Anastasios Papapostolou The Greek Reporter, June 26 <http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/06/26/greece-to-hold-referendum-on-bailout-agreement> Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced that Greece will hold a referendum on July 5 to ask the Greek people if they approve of a bailout deal with the country’s creditors. In a speech on national TV, Tsipras said his government had been asked to accept “unbearable” austerity measures. He said German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi have been informed of the plan, and he’ll request an extension of Greece’s existing bailout, due to end June 30, by a few days to permit the vote without having to introduce capital controls in the Greek banks. A Greek government source said the country’s banks will open on Monday and no capital controls are planned. The referendum is expected to ask Greek citizens if they approve the proposed bailout agreement with Greece’s foreign creditors without touching upon a possible Grexit that could follow if the nation votes no on the deal. Greece’s State Minister Nikos Pappas said that he expects the Greek people to vote no on the “humiliating” deal the creditors have offered the Greek government. “Those who are rushing to connect the referendum’s outcome with Greece’s stay in the Eurozone are pro-memoranda political forces that favor austerity” stated the Greek minister. German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Greece to accept the deal [creditors' proposal], describing it as “extraordinarily generous”. On Saturday the Greek parliament will convene to approve the referendum, as it is required by Greek law. 2) Greece Referendum: This is the Bailout Deal Greeks Will Vote On by Anastasios Papapostolou Greek Reporter, June 26 <http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/06/26/greece-referendum-this-is-the-bailout-deal-greeks-will-vote-on> As Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced that Greece will hold a referendum to ask the Greek people if they approve of a bailout deal with the country’s creditors, here is a final draft of the creditors proposal for Greece, as it was obtained by the Financial Times. The referendum, to be conducted on July 5th, will ask the Greek citizens if they approve a deal based on the following document the Greek government has already described as “humiliating” since it includes more austerity for the country. See the proposal [here] <http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/06/26/greece-referendum-this-is-the-bailout-deal-greeks-will-vote-on> 3) PM Tsipras calls referendum on bailout on July 5 Times of Change, Greece, June 27 (Reuters) <http://www.thetoc.gr/eng/news/article/pm-tsipras-calls-referendum-on-bailout-on-july-5> Late Friday night, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called a referendum on July 5 whether the country should accept or reject a bailout agreement offered by creditors. "These proposals, which clearly violate the European rules and the basic rights to work, equality and dignity show that the purpose of some of the partners and institutions was not a viable agreement for all parties, but possibly the humiliation of an entire people," Tsipras said in a televised address to the nation. He made the comments hours after flying back from Brussels, where European and IMF creditors offered Greece a deal that his government rejected as inadequate. Athens will ask for an extension of its bailout agreement, which ends on June 30, by a few days in light of the referendum, he said. Greek State Minister Nikos Pappas, a senior aide to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, said he believed Greeks would vote to reject a bailout agreement offered by creditors in a referendum called on July 5. Right-wing junior government coalition partners Independent Greeks party will urge voters to reject a bailout agreement when they vote in a referendum on July 5, the party's leader said on Saturday. "Just like in 1940 when Greek people decided to say no to foreign armies, as president of the Independent Greeks party I call for all of the party to participate in this big celebration of democracy called a referendum and to vote 'No' - no to handing away our independence," Panos Kammenos, whose party is the junior partner in Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's coalition, told Greek television. Alexis Tsipras spoke with European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi on Saturday, who showed "understanding and sensitivity" over a decision to hold a referendum on July 5, the government spokesman said. Greek banks rely on emergency infusions from the European Central Bank to stay afloat and the liquidity lifeline has been reviewed frequently in recent weeks as Greek savers pulled out money on fears of capital controls. "We are sure - which was proven also during the phone call - that Mr. Draghi has the best of intentions on the decision of the Greek government to hold a referendum," Gabriel Sakellaridis told Greek television. Opposition leader Antonis Samaras attacked Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for calling a referendum on a bailout deal, saying it was effectively setting the country on a collision course with Europe. "European identity is an accomplishment of Greece, and New Democracy is clearly sided with democracy and Europe," Samaras, a former Greek prime minister and leader of the New Democracy conservatives, said in a statement. Earlier Alexis Tsipras said he would convene parliament to ratify his proposal of a referendum on bailout demands of the country's EU and IMF lenders. Tsipras, elected on an anti-austerity mandate in January, called lenders demands outright "blackmail". "Tsipras brought the country to a total deadlock. Between an unacceptable agreement and a euro exit," Samaras said. The referendum question was effectively a "yes" or "no" to Europe, Samaras said. 4) Tsipras announces referendum on lenders' proposals I Kathimerini, Athens, June 27 <http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_27/06/2015_551569> In a surprise move, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced early on Saturday that his government intends to hold a referendum on whether Greece should accept the proposals put forward by lenders. Tsipras made it clear that he is against accepting the terms offered by creditors but said that he would accept the outcome of any vote. The prime minister said he would go to Parliament on Saturday to get approval from MPs to hold the referendum on Sunday, July 5. “After five months of tough negotiations, our partners unfortunately resorted to a proposal-ultimatum to the Greek people,” Tsipras said. “I call on the Greek people to rule on the blackmailing ultimatum asking us to accept a strict and humiliating austerity without end and without prospect.” The surprise development throws into turmoil planned talks Saturday among euro-area finance ministers on their latest proposal, which would unlock 15.5 billion euros and extend Greece’s program through November, in return for a commitment to pension cuts and higher taxes that Tsipras opposes. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke with European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi on Saturday, who showed "understanding and sensitivity" over a decision to hold a referendum on July 5, the government spokesman said. Greek banks rely on emergency infusions from the European Central Bank to stay afloat and the liquidity lifeline has been reviewed frequently in recent weeks as Greek savers pulled out money on fears of capital controls. "We are sure - which was proven also during the phone call - that Mr. Draghi has the best of intentions on the decision of the Greek government to hold a referendum," Gabriel Sakellaridis told Greek television. Greeece’s Deputy Prime Minister Yannis Dragasakis and Deputy Foreign Minister Euclid Tsakalotos will meet Saturday with European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, a government statement said. Tsipras spoke with Draghi on the phone before announcing his decision to hold a referendum to explain the government’s view, Tsakalotos said in a phone interview. 5) Opposition parties attack Tsipras on referendum I Kathimerini, Athens, June 27 (Reuters) <http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_27/06/2015_551570> Greek political opposition parties attacked Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's decision to call a referendum on creditors' demands for a cash-for-reforms deal, saying the move risked pushing the country out of the European Union. Socialist party PASOK, the junior partner in the previous coalition government, called for Tsipras's resignation. "Since Mr. Tsipras is unable to take responsible decisions, he ought to resign and let citizens vote for their future via elections," PASOK's leader Fofi Genimmata said in a statement. Centrist To Potami party blasted the leftist prime minister for his decision to call a referendum, saying it would fight to keep the country in the heart of Europe. "Alexis Tsipras and (Independent Greeks leader) Panos Kammenos decided to lead the lobby of the drachma, to take the country out of the European Union and push it over the cliff," the party's leader Stavros Theodorakis said in a statement. "We will fight together for a strong Greece in the heart of Europe." Conservative New Democracy said the government brought the country to an impasse, isolating it from Europe, accusing Tsipras for throwing the responsibility he himself could not bear to the shoulders of the people. "Mr. Tsipras today leads the country to a referendum with a the ultimate question being a yes or no to Europe and he proposes a rift with all our partners and an exit from the euro," former prime minister Antonis Samaras said. On Fri, Jun 26, 2015 at 6:51 PM, Stuart Munckton via Marxism <marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced on June 26 that a referendum > will be called over the bailout deal being proposed for the country by > Greece's creditors. the deal is pushed by the "Troika" of the European > Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank. > > https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/59324 > _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
