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Sunday, July 5, 2015

Greeks Reject Creditors’ Bailout Terms in Referendum

Partial results from Sunday’s referendum in Greece indicate voters have rejected the terms of a bailout-for-reforms deal proposed by the country’s international creditors. With over 30% of the votes counted, rejection of the bailout terms by a ‘No’ vote stood at 60%, while 40% had voted ‘Yes’ to accept the agreement put forward by creditors on 25 June. Results published by the interior ministry indicate a clear win for Greece's governing left-wing Syriza party which campaigned for a "No" vote, saying the bailout terms were humiliating. The party, which swept to power on an anti-austerity ticket, argued that a ‘No’ vote would strengthen its hand to win a better deal in talks with international creditors. The "Yes" camp, however, warned a ‘No’ vote could deny Greece badly needed bailout aid and ultimately eject the debt-laden countryout of the eurozone. After the latest official results were in, the Greek government said it wants to resume talks with its European partners. Greece's current bailout programme with the European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank expired on Tuesday. "The negotiations which will start must be concluded very soon, even within 48 hours," government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis told Greek television, according to Reuters. "We will undertake every effort to seal it soon." The Greek government's chief negotiator, Euclid Tsakalotos, said talks could resume as early as this evening. The government in Athens broke off negotiations on the rescue plan just days before Greece was due to repay EUR 1.5 B to the IMF on Tuesday. With state coffers empty, Greece defaulted on its IMF debt, and was forced to impose capital controls and close banks as of Monday to halt an outflow cash as anxious Greeks rushed to withdraw money.  


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