Dispute over the referendum in Greece: Government of Alexis Tsipras is threatening the … – Tagesspiegel

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The Syriza government in Greece is divided on the planned referendum Sunday. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stressed that pensions are safe. But many expect more with a complete crash.

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The Syriza government in Athens is threatening to fall apart. The referendum, the approach to the creditor – in the Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras has flared up a controversy over the right course. Greek Prime Minister was trying to convey confidence on Tuesday afternoon in his statement on Greek television. Those who blame his government to push Greece out of the euro zone, are liars. A No was only a stronger position in the upcoming negotiations. Therefore, the referendum would be held as planned. However, given the ever-worsening situation in the country, there are growing differences within the government over the way ahead. The Vice President of the Greek Parliament, Alexis Mitropoulos, a leaders of Syriza, addressed on Wednesday a strong appeal to Prime Minister Tsipras.

He should immediately reach an agreement with the donors and to cancel the planned referendum, Mitropoulos said in television channel Skai. Already the day before Deputy Prime Minister Giannis Dragasakis had indicated the possibility in a television interview that it is possible to cancel the referendum. But he denied afterwards that he had this meant. Varoufakis and Tsipras had a rejection always coupled in mind that it previously signed an agreement with the Euro Group admit – but leaning Greek proposals from previously. The referendum is becoming a growing problem for the government. With each passing day with closed banks the support for the government falls. Still, it could be enough but, one published on Wednesday survey suggests that 46 percent of Greeks on Sunday will vote ‘no’ and only 37 percent yes. That would be a victory for Syriza first. Tsipras hopes that a No indeed strengthen its negotiating position. In fact, such a result could also prevent an agreement.

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first consequence would be the collapse of the Greek banking system. Then the balance of the Greeks would probably be lost, and the consequences for the economy of the country unpredictable – even if Tsipras assured on Tuesday: “pensions, bank deposits and salaries are safe.” Several prominent members of the government do now backtracked. Among them are next to Deputy Prime Dragasakis also regarded as moderate Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis and responsible for International Economic Relations Vice Foreign Minister Euclid Tsakalotos belong, Greece negotiation coordinator in talks with creditors.

wrangles among those waiting

These three politicians were from the outset against the referendum, they say. At least two prominent ministers are Tsipras even have notified in writing their serious concerns. But you are against politicians like Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and State Minister Nikos Pappas, one of the closest confidants Tsipras. They plead for a hostile stance towards the donors – in the expectation that will back down at the end. This line is also supported by the protagonists of the leftist wing of the ruling party Syriza as Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, who advocates a Greek exit from the euro zone and the EU anyway. Tsipras apparently been trying to balance between the two trends and go a confrontation with the extremist forces in his party out of the way. How long Tsipras get away with it, but is open.

Especially the problems with the payment of pensions device Tsipras under pressure. After the Greek banks threatened with collapse on Monday closed indefinitely, approximately 1,000 branch offices of the five largest financial institutions have reopened across the country since Wednesday. They are those pensioners pay money that do not have bank types and thus have no access to ATMs. But that runs quite chaotic. Many of the elderly, the long hours queuing falls obviously difficult. Again and again it comes to wrangling and strife among those waiting.

pension in installments

The nerves of most people are on edge, many are desperate. Around 8,000 police officers across the country are on their feet, to protect and to maintain order the banks. But for many the wait ended on Wednesday in disappointment. It was late at night, the banks had announced that customers will now be served in alphabetical order: On Wednesday those whose last name begins with Alpha to Iota, Kappa on Thursday to Wednesday and on Friday Ni to Omega.

In the coming week the second installment of the pensions to be paid, again a maximum of 120 Euro. Then again, tens of thousands are pending before the branches – if the Greek banks have so far not collapsed anyway, so some industry experts expect -. Especially when the Greeks were a majority vote against the final offer of help of donors on Sunday in the referendum