German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday suggested in a telephone conversation with Greek President Karolos Papoulias to hold a referendum on the country's membership in the Eurozone during parliamentary elections on June 17, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tsiodras said.
Greece is trying to avoid default and withdrawal from the Eurozone by implementing an austerity program in exchange for multi-billion-dollar loans from the EU and International Monetary Fund.
Athens is planning further measures to save some $33 billion through 2015. The country's total debt has ballooned to $490 billion.
Tsiodras said the referendum issue was outside the Greek caretaker government’s jurisdiction.
Caretaker prime minister Panagiotis Pikramenos has already told the leaders of Greek parties of Merkel’s proposal.
Antonis Samaras, the leader of Greece’s major New Democracy party, has called Merkel’s proposal unacceptable.
"The Greek nation does not need a referendum to prove its choice in favor of the euro - a choice it is defending with bloodied victims. Mrs. Merkel's proposal on the referendum, especially in the pre-election period, is at least unfortunate and may not be accepted."
