Several key SYRIZA members are disgruntled over the presumed compromises Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis have made in the negotiations on the Greek debt so far. Some even talk of a referendum and general elections. Parliament President Zoe Konstantopoulou presses Tsipras not to back down on his promises to the Greek people, whatever the cost. She actually told the prime minister that SYRIZA and junior coalition partner Independent Greeks will not accept his baptizing the memorandum as a “contract” or the troika as “institutions.” Talking to Unfollow magazine, Konstantopoulou also said, “The SYRIZA parliamentary group will not accept a falling back on the party’s campaign pledges.” She added that the party must respect the people’s mandate and remain true to its leftist principles. On Friday, SYRIZA secretariat member Alekos Kalyvis stated that if negotiations fail, the government must ask the Greek people through a referendum, or even snap elections. “Elections might be a good solution, even though it is too early,” he said. SYRIZA member of European Parliament Costas Chrysogonos said on Greek radio, “If our lenders push us to the edge and insist on austerity measures and the alternative is bankruptcy and an exit from the euro zone, then the government must resort to elections.” Another SYRIZA lawmaker, Costas Lapavitsas, claims that the European Central Bank President Mario Draghi has set a double trap on Greece by shutting down liquidity and financing. He also criticizes Varoufakis on his line on negotiations and warns Tsipras to be more cautious in his deals with European partners.
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