Greek debt crisis: Major rallies due ahead of vote

BBC ^ | 46 minutes ago

[BenLurkin]

Divisions in Greece have sharpened ahead of the vote. One poll cited by euro2day.gr said 47% of people were leaning toward a "Yes" vote, with the "No" camp at 43%. A previous poll suggested the "No" camp had a shrinking lead.

Mr Tsipras has said that a strong "No" vote will help lead to a "better agreement" with creditors.

"Our efforts are focused on overcoming the crisis as fast as possible, with a solution that preserves the dignity and sovereignty of our people,'' he said.

But EU leaders have warned that a "No" vote on Sunday may see Greece leave the eurozone, something Mr Tsipras says he does not want to happen.

His opponents in Greece have said they believe he is making a mistake.

In a speech endorsing the "Yes" campaign on Thursday, former Greek PM Costas Karamanlis said the world would "consider a 'No' vote to be a withdrawal from the heart of Europe, the first step toward euro exit".

...

Lenders' proposals: Key sticking points

◾VAT (sales tax): Alexis Tsipras accepts a new three-tier system, but wants to keep 30% discount on the Greek islands' VAT rates. Lenders want the islands' discounts scrapped

◾Pensions: Ekas top-up grant for some 200,000 poorer pensioners will be phased out by 2020 - as demanded by lenders. But Mr Tsipras says no to immediate Ekas cut for the wealthiest 20% of Ekas recipients

◾Defence: Mr Tsipras says reduce ceiling for military spending by €200m in 2016 and €400m in 2017. Lenders call for €400m reduction - no mention of €200m

[SaveFerris]

Coming to America, I’m sure.

[Cowboy Bob]

I just want to see the "pretty boy" Socialist Greek PM get his ass handed to him by the electorate.

Is that asking too much?

[aquila48]

“Our efforts are focused on overcoming the crisis as fast as possible, with a solution that preserves the dignity and sovereignty of our people,”

PRESERVES the dignity and sovereignty???

What a shameless scoundrel.

How can a country who’s deep to its eyeballs in debt to other countries claim sovereignty?

How can a country who lies and doesn’t keep its commitments claim dignity?

[familyop]

"Alexis Tsipras...wants to keep 30% discount on the Greek islands' VAT rates...But Mr Tsipras says no to immediate Ekas cut for the wealthiest 20% of Ekas recipients"

So he wants other European nations to shoulder more of the tax burden and to keep the top of the socialist Greek political class propped up.

[familyop]

The chart, “Who owns Greece’s Debt?” at the BBC article page is very interesting. No wonder the U.K. has been demanding that Greece’s creditors continue forking money over to Greece. Germany and France are standing in the way of U.K. desires for “empire.”

[House Atreides]

The Greeks have run out of other European’s money.

[pepsionice]

Actually, the PM is pushing for a ‘no’ on Sunday’s election, and if it turns to ‘yes’....he’ll probably resign because no within his party knows how to proceed ahead. As for the ‘no’, I don’t see how they proceed ahead even with that vote.

I read this morning that come Monday....they expect the ATM machines to be mostly turned off, and a handful working mostly around tourist areas.

I kinda expect either a coup or a short-term revolution to occur before the end of July.