Published time: June 27, 2015 23:11
Referendums have been used all across Europe as a way for people to directly express their will and have their voices heard, and Greece is fully in its right to conduct one PM Alexis Tsipras said during a late-night debate in parliament.
The message from a number of Finance Ministers today-with a
number of exceptions--was that #democracy
should be stifled. #Greece#vouli
— Alexis Tsipras (@tsipras_eu) June
27, 2015
The conditions for a new bailout deal and reforms proposed by
Greece's creditors were an ultimatum and an insult, Tsipras said.
“We exhausted every limit of concessions so there could be an agreement,” Tsipras said. “Perhaps some saw that as a weakness.”
We don't need to ask permission from Mr. Schäuble or Mr.
Dijsselbloem to let the voice of the Greek people to be heard.
#Greece#vouli
— Alexis Tsipras (@tsipras_eu) June
27, 2015
“The day of truth is coming for the creditors, the time when
they will see that Greece will not surrender, that Greece is not
a game that has ended,” he said, concluding his address by
calling on all Greeks to reject the “ultimatum” with a
“resounding NO.”
READ MORE: Greek debt crisis: Eurogroup shifting towards 'Plan B'
The parliament is set to vote on Tsipras’ motion to hold a referendum. During the rowdy debate in the Greek Parliament, the main opposition party, New Democracy, briefly walked out over a dispute with the parliamentary speaker, but later returned. The motion needs 151 votes to pass, but is likely to be approved as Tsipras’ ruling coalition is holding 163 seats in the 300-seat parliament.
