ATHENS: Tens of thousands of Greeks took to the streets yesterday in rival rallies that laid bare the deep divide heading into a referendum that may decide the country’s future in Europe’s single currency.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras urged people packing Syntagma square in central Athens to spurn the tough terms of an aid deal offered by international creditors to keep the country afloat.
His European partners said a ‘No’ vote will jeopardise Greece’s membership of the euro.
Tsipras said they are bluffing, fearing the fallout for Europe and the global economy. A ‘Yes’ vote may bring him down, ushering in a new period of political instability for a country reeling from five days of shuttered banks and rationed cash withdrawals.
Framing tomorrow’s ballot as a battle for democracy, freedom and European values, the left-wing leader told Greeks to “turn your backs on those who terrorise you daily. On Sunday, we are not just deciding that we are staying in Europe, but that we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe”.
Opponents accuse Tsipras of gambling Greece’s future on a rapid-fire plebiscite that a European rights watchdog said falls short of international standards of fairness.
Four opinion polls published yesterday had the ‘Yes’ vote marginally ahead; a fifth put the ‘No’ camp 0.5 percent in front, but all were within the margin of error. “We know that the lenders will close the door if we say no, but we must fight,” said pensioner Irini Stavridou, who attended the ‘No’ rally.AFP
