BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – Tsipras announced that a surprise referendum on whether to accept an accord for a new bailout with its creditors would take place July 5 after the government rejected creditors’ proposals, aimed at rescuing the debt-ridden country from defaulting on its debt, due in four days.
“I am very negatively surprised by today’s decisions by the Greek government. They have apparently rejected the last proposals on the table from the three institutions,” Dijsselbloem said upon his arrival in Brussels to attend an emergency meeting on Greece.
“And on that negative basis they have proposed to parliament to have a referendum with again a negative advice to the Greek people. That is a sad decision for Greece because it has closed the door on further talks,” he added.
Eurozone finance ministers are meeting in Brussels in a last-ditch attempt to secure a deal with Athens as the current bailout program draws to a close on Tuesday.
The same day, Greece must deliver the next $1.7-billion payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A failure to thrash out a deal carries the risk of a Greek default and possible euro-exit.
