The government and opposition parties will be in a race to win voters in the next 72 hours, the time remaining until the referendum in Greece. Voters will have to declare whether they are for or against measures of the European partners, which the government considers to be unfair for Greek society, and thus to answer the question whether it support the government to continue its defiance against the European institutions, or they would turn their back to this attempt.
In an effort to ensure a safer future for Greece in the EU, many former Greek PMs, Kostas Simitis, Konstantinos Karamanlis, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, sent a public appeal to the citizens to vote for the measures on the referendum and not put Greece in an uncertain situation.
– On Sunday we vote “for”. Eurozone policy is making great pressures, but it is the only way to ensure funding for our economy and support for the development of the state. “No” at the referendum means “no” to the economic stability, to state funding. “No” will lead to an escalation of the crisis,” said Simitis, PM who put Greece into the Eurozone, in his appeal to the citizens.
Karamanlis, in an attempt to show understanding for the difficulties, in his address after his first defeat in 2009, said the EU undoubtedly has flaws, but Europe, in spite of everything, is the home of Greece.
– Greece is an integral part of the EU. We should confirm it decisively. On Sunday we say “yes” to Europe with full respect for the unity and the sacrifices of Greeks – said Karamanlis.
All opposition media became a part of the “lobby” for a positive response to the referendum, directing a serious criticism of the twist made by Tsipras with the referendum and his yesterday’s stakes game of doubt and the parallel criticism and accepting the terms of creditors, asking the government to give a clear answer to leading its policy of refusing all measures and which is “Plan B” to which the government will use if citizens support it.
“Mr. Tsipras, make a decision,” writes “To Vima”, criticizing his tinkering with the state and stubbornness not to talk to others except his allies.
Meanwhile, “Kathimerini” reports that Greek people still cannot understand why all of this is happening to the state.
“Even in February, Tsipras could have agreed to the proposals of Jean-Claude Juncker and the new program with better conditions. Now he is constantly demolishing bridges around him, creating a huge gap in trust between Greece and the EU,” reads the newspaper.
However, except opposition, the trust in Tsipras of MPs who are part of the governing coalition began to break down as well.
The moves of the Greek government are risky and the obscurity around the constant changing of Tsipras’ positions seems to slowly create cracks in the government coalition.
“Kathimerini” reports that already three MPs from the Independent Greeks, Vassilis Kokkalis Costas Damavolitis and Dimitris Kamenos, are inclined to vote “yes” on the referendum, despite the government’s position, and with their statements and disagreement with the closure of banks are calling voters to think which side they would take. Kokkalis and Kamenos already called for the revocation of the referendum decision, saying there should be no egotism in politics.
Discord between citizens and politicians is already visible from disputes on social media, active lobbies, to sharp criticism and threats from political leaders.
The man who bears the burden of financing decisions, Yannis Varoufakis, announced his resignation if the majority of the people votes to support the measures of the European institutions, pointing out that he doesn’t plan to sign an agreement that does not include debt relief.
Whether and what will the risk of Prime Tsipras with the decision for referendum bring is becoming more uncertain day by day. Citizens fear whether they will again see their savings in the banks, for which the media have warned that can be opened only if there is a new agreement with the European institutions, or if Greece is returned to the drachma. Analysts who follow the events commented that if there is a return to the drachma and the collapse of all savings, Greece will face a new financial and civil hell.
