EUROZONE-GREECE/SPAIN REAX Madrid residents react to Greeks saying no

Record ID: 148315

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/SPAIN REAX Madrid residents react to Greeks saying no
  • Date: 6th July 2015
  • Summary: FRONT PAGE OF EL MUNDO NEWSPAPER READING "GREECE SAYS "NO" TO EUROPE" FRONT PAGE OF EL PAIS NEWSPAPER READING "THE HOUR OF TRUTH IN EUROPE AFTER GREECE'S CLEAR "NO" ABC FRONT PAGE READING "GREECE BECKONS ITS RUIN WITH A "NO" TO EUROPE" LA RAZON FRONT PAGE READING "WITHOUT OXYGEN"
  • Embargoed: 21st July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAE3FTLTJHIZM6Z6PU4IHJ2PTP0
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: As Spain woke up on Monday (July 6) morning, the main talking point on the streets of the Spanish capital has been the "no" vote in Greece's referendum.
    The country's radio and television stations opened their morning bulletins with the news of Greece's rejection of a new rescue package. This has thrown the future of the country's eurozone membership into further doubt and deepened a stand-off with lenders.
    Meanwhile in Madrid, workers gave their opinion of what the effect could be in Spain.
    One Madrid resident, Manuela Vazquez, appeared optimistic when asked about her thoughts on the referendum.
    "I think what could happen now is that things improve. Europe has to realise that we couldn't continue down the path that we've been following," she said.
    Her thoughts were echoed by Pilar Palomo, another Madrid resident heading to work.
    "I believe that was has happened was what was supposed to happen, which is a no vote. It was the only solution that they could have in their current situation," Palomo said.
    Others said the Greeks were right to vote in the way they did.
    "Despite the fact that it's a disaster, they're right because they're sick and tired of austerity. They've confirmed that austerity has made things worse, which is more or less what has happened here. They've cut worker's pensions and pensioners, while capital flows out of the country," she explained.
    The divide between those in favour and against the Greek government and people's decision to reject the latest rescue package from Europe was evident on the front page of Spain's main newspapers on Monday.
    The more conservative ABC and La Razon have decided on a more pessimistic reaction. ABC reads "Greece beckons its ruin with a "no" vote", while La Razon has used "Without Oxygen" as its lead.
    Greece's outspoken finance minister resigned on Monday, removing a major obstacle to any last-minute deal to keep Athens in the eurozone after Greeks voted resoundingly to reject the austerity terms of a bailout.
    Yanis Varoufakis, a self-proclaimed "erratic Marxist" economist who infuriated eurozone partners with his unconventional style and hectoring lectures, had campaigned for Sunday's sweeping 'No' vote, accusing Greece' creditors of "terrorism".
    His sacrifice, after promising Greeks he would win a better deal within a day of their overwhelming referendum vote, suggested leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is determined to try to reach a last-ditch compromise with European leaders.
    With banks shuttered, cash machines running out of banknotes and sympathy for Athens among EU governments close to exhausted, Greece's fate is largely in the hands of the European Central Bank and of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
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