Defiant Greek PM vows referendum will go ahead

July 02, 2015 02:21

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras today vowed to go ahead with a controversial bailout referendum despite pressure from European leaders as they declined to consider any fresh debt offer before Sunday's vote.

Hours after Greece became the first advanced economy to default on an IMF repayment, the leftist leader used a live TV address to urge Greeks to vote 'No' on Sunday to creditors' current demands.

Tsipras, at loggerheads with Greece's creditors since his election in January, insisted a 'No' vote would "not signify a rupture with Europe" despite efforts by EU leaders to cast it as a referendum on Greece's place in the bloc.

"Come Monday, the Greek government will be at the negotiating table after the referendum, with better terms for the Greek people," he added, standing between Greek and EU flags.

His comments came after Greece yesterday made a last-minute proposal for a third bailout worth nearly 30 billion euros (USD 33 billion) to follow the two rescue programmes worth 240 billion euros that cash-strapped Athens has received since 2010.

Frustrated eurozone finance ministers agreed today to wait until after the referendum before holding any more talks, saying there were "no grounds" for further discussions.

Most Greeks are still only allowed to withdraw 60 euros (USD 66) per day after capital controls.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Have You Heard About Timeboxing?

Why timebox? Most knowledge workers feel overburdened. Like The Joker in the Batman movies, we have all, at one point or the other, muttered to ourselves: 'So much to do, so little time.'

Adani, Tata eye bigger pie in Mumbai power distribution

As Mumbai's real estate and electric vehicle penetration grows, two of the city's private power distribution companies, Adani Electricity and Tata Power, are eyeing a bigger business pie, particularly betting on high-value customers....

This Is The New Blockbuster In India

While things remain bleak for Bollywood at the box office, Hollywood's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has brought quick relief to exhibitors and distributors.

Mountain of cash recovered in raid on Jh'khand minister's secy's aide

The premises are alleged to be of the domestic help of Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam's personal secretary Sanjiv Lal.

181 VCs, academicians accuse Rahul of spreading falsehood

The selection has been completely based on academic and administrative prowess and with a vision to take universities ahead, they said.