“The referendum will be a clear mandate and a clear message in Greece and abroad on our European path and on participation in the euro. No one will be able to doubt our progress within the euro”. No retreat from George Papandreou, prime minister of Athens, who during the night - after a seven-hour meeting - obtained the go-ahead from the government to the popular consultation.
Greek citizens will be called upon to express their views on the agreement reached with the EU to save the country, which is therefore called into question, a decision which yesterday caused the collapse of stock markets around the world. Greek government spokesman Elias Mossialos said the referendum would be held "as soon as possible, immediately after the fundamentals of the bailout agreement are formulated,” but did not say whether it will be before Christmas.
In the last few hours, the Greek premier has rejected a dense series of criticisms, some of which come from his own governing party, the socialist Pasok acronym. Six deputies yesterday asked for Papandreou's resignation, hoping for the creation of an emergency executive. But for the moment the socialist leader remains in the saddle, at least until vote of confidence next Friday.
Fixed the internal problems for the moment, a Papandreou the most difficult problem remains to be tackled, that of tense relations with France and Germany. It is expected tonight in Cannes, where he was summoned by Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy for a clarifying meeting on the refendum of discord, just 24 hours after the opening of the G20. Officials from the EU and the IMF will also be present. Instead, Mario Draghi, the new governor of the European Central Bank since yesterday, will miss the appointment.
