Reuters, Athens :
Tens of thousands of Greeks took to the streets on Friday in rival rallies that laid bare the deep divide heading into a referendum that may decide the country’s future in Europe’s single currency.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, elected in January on a promise to end years of austerity, urged people packing Syntagma square in central Athens to spurn the tough terms of an aid deal offered by international creditors to keep the country afloat.
His European partners say a ‘No’ vote will jeopardize Greece’s membership of the euro.
Tsipras says they are bluffing, fearing the fallout for Europe and the global economy. A ‘Yes’ vote may bring him down, ushering in a new period of political instability for a country reeling from five days of shuttered banks and rationed cash withdrawals.
Framing Sunday’s ballot as a battle for democracy, freedom and European values, the 40-year-old left-wing leader told Greeks to “turn your backs on those who terrorize you daily”.
“On Sunday, we are not just deciding that we are staying in Europe, but that we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe,” he told the crowd of at least 50,000.
His opponents accuse Tsipras of gambling Greece’s future on a rapid-fire plebiscite that a major European rights watchdog says falls short of international standards of fairness.
Four opinion polls published on Friday had the ‘Yes’ vote marginally ahead; a fifth put the ‘No’ camp 0.5 percent in front, but all were well within the margin of error.
“We know that the lenders will close the door if we say no, but we must fight,” said 65-year-old pensioner Irini Stavridou, who attended the ‘No’ rally.
“We must fight not only for Greece but all the people in Europe, for those who just have a different opinion.”
On Syntagma, patriotic songs blared out over loudspeakers. At the ‘Yes’ camp, thousands rallied in front of the old Olympic Stadium to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” the anthem of the European Union. There appeared to be fewer people than in the ‘No’ crowd.
“I prefer to vote ‘Yes’, have a few more years austerity and give my child a better future,” said unemployed economist Marina Peppa, 45. “It’s not going to be easy, but if ‘No’ prevails we’ll have Armageddon, total poverty.”
Tens of thousands of Greeks took to the streets on Friday in rival rallies that laid bare the deep divide heading into a referendum that may decide the country’s future in Europe’s single currency.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, elected in January on a promise to end years of austerity, urged people packing Syntagma square in central Athens to spurn the tough terms of an aid deal offered by international creditors to keep the country afloat.
His European partners say a ‘No’ vote will jeopardize Greece’s membership of the euro.
Tsipras says they are bluffing, fearing the fallout for Europe and the global economy. A ‘Yes’ vote may bring him down, ushering in a new period of political instability for a country reeling from five days of shuttered banks and rationed cash withdrawals.
Framing Sunday’s ballot as a battle for democracy, freedom and European values, the 40-year-old left-wing leader told Greeks to “turn your backs on those who terrorize you daily”.
“On Sunday, we are not just deciding that we are staying in Europe, but that we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe,” he told the crowd of at least 50,000.
His opponents accuse Tsipras of gambling Greece’s future on a rapid-fire plebiscite that a major European rights watchdog says falls short of international standards of fairness.
Four opinion polls published on Friday had the ‘Yes’ vote marginally ahead; a fifth put the ‘No’ camp 0.5 percent in front, but all were well within the margin of error.
“We know that the lenders will close the door if we say no, but we must fight,” said 65-year-old pensioner Irini Stavridou, who attended the ‘No’ rally.
“We must fight not only for Greece but all the people in Europe, for those who just have a different opinion.”
On Syntagma, patriotic songs blared out over loudspeakers. At the ‘Yes’ camp, thousands rallied in front of the old Olympic Stadium to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” the anthem of the European Union. There appeared to be fewer people than in the ‘No’ crowd.
“I prefer to vote ‘Yes’, have a few more years austerity and give my child a better future,” said unemployed economist Marina Peppa, 45. “It’s not going to be easy, but if ‘No’ prevails we’ll have Armageddon, total poverty.”
