EUROZONE-GREECE/VAROUFAKIS VOTING Varoufakis heckled by Greek residents after referendum vote

Record ID: 148414

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/VAROUFAKIS VOTING Varoufakis heckled by Greek residents after referendum vote
  • Date: 5th July 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 05, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VAROUFAKIS WALKING ON THE STREET OUTSIDE POLLING STATION / REPORTER ASKING (English): "And who is the terrorist then? VAROUFAKIS SAYING (English): "I will leave it to you." VAROUFAKIS CONTINUES WALKING AND IS APPROACHED BY A MAN ASKING (Greek): "You had spoken about austere livelihood, what k
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA19H8P3F5OWHPIRPJX2RLXDY4
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis voted in the Athens suburb of Palaio Faliro in the high-stakes referendum on Sunday (July 5) likely to determine whether Greece leaves the euro-currency area.
    Inside the voting station, the minister was asked by a foreign reporter what message he had delivered to his daughter on the morning of the historic vote.
    "Look, democracy is a flower fragile flower that needs to be preserved," Varoufakis answered.
    After delivering his ballot, Varoufakis, the man who negotiated with international creditors the terms of the bailout the government rejected, continued to speak outside the polling station.
    "For five years now, the tremendous failures of the Eurogroup were leading to ultimatums for which the Greek people had no say in. Today, after five years of failures, the Greek people have a chance to decide on the last ultimatum from the Eurogroup, the institutions, the partners," he said as he was surrounded by journalists.
    He also explained his view on what he called terrorism by the international creditors.
    "What is terrorism? It is the pursuit of political agendas by means of inspiring fear in people, mind-numbing fear. Well, the choice that we were given: accept a non-viable agreement or we will shut your banks, can be classified as such," he said as he walked away from journalists.
    But, as he continued to be followed by reporters, he continued to answer questions.
    Asked by a persistent reporter to provide a concrete name for the terrorist, he said: "I will leave it with you."
    Varoufakis was then approached by an angry citizen who questioned him about the recent capital control measures imposed by the government to prevent the collapse of the bank system, limiting cash withdrawals for Greek citizens to 60 euros per day.
    "Do you want to come with me to an Alpha bank near here where crowds of people are waiting?" The man, who identified himself as Dimitri, asked Varoufakis.
    Varoufakis responded by saying: "We gave the opportunity to those who are furious with us to vote 'Yes' and I have said publicly, and I will repeat it now, if they say 'Yes' tomorrow I will cease being finance minister."
    Dimitris told Varoufakis he was "indignant".
    "Then vote 'Yes'. We are the only government that gave you the right to vote against us," the Greek finance minister responded as he entered his car.
    If Greeks vote 'Yes' to the bailout, the government has indicated it will resign.
    European creditors have said a 'Yes' vote will resurrect hopes of aid to Greece. A 'No', they say, will represent rejection of the rules that bind the eurozone nations, leaving Greece to fend for itself.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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