EUROZONE-GREECE/MORNING Greeks deeply divided heading into crucial vote

Record ID: 148458

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/MORNING Greeks deeply divided heading into crucial vote
  • Date: 4th July 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 4, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EU AND GREEK FLAGS BESIDE ACROPOLIS SYNTAGMA SQUARE AND GREEK PARLIAMENT VARIOUS OF GREEK FLAG FLYING ON PARLIAMENT FOUNTAIN ON SYNTAGMA SQUARE PEOPLE STANDING ON THE SQUARE "NO" POSTER ON A LAMP POST VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ACROSS SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) ATHENS RESIDENT, PANTELIS AVIDIS, SAYING: "I fear the rift. I k
  • Embargoed: 19th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3OZU0WY9MNBVY9AZCOU8QNW7K
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: With less than 24 hours to go until the polls open in a referendum which may decide Greece's future in Europe's single currency, Greeks seemed divided on Saturday (July 4) on whether or not to accept the terms of a further bailout deal set out by international lenders.
    On Friday evening (July 3), tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Athens in rival rallies, illustrating the deep divide in the country.
    Some people say they are worried the divisions will continue even after the vote.
    "I fear the rift. I know what I'm going to vote but I believe that the referendum was a bad idea. It has provoked a terrible rift in Greek society. I think the political issue will be overcome but I am very much afraid that the divide will remain," said pensioner, Pantelis Avidis.
    Four opinion polls published on Friday (July 3) 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.
    "I'm going to vote yes because I want to support Europe and nothing more, just Europe. I want to stay in Europe. I want my children to be Europeans, not just in name but in substance," said Athens resident, Kiki Kiziridou.
    A 'Yes' vote may bring down Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, 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 terrorise you daily".
    Those in the 'No' camp say they want a move away from traditional politics.
    "Of course I'm going to vote no because I want my country to change direction. All these years politicians have stolen and lied to the people and we never saw any change. The no is not a simple no, we are saying no because we want a new direction and because with these measures there will not be any growth whatsoever," said student Antonis Sikounopoulos.
    Some are just glad of the opportunity to decide on their country's future.
    "I feel very proud that after 40 years we are finally having a referendum in Greece. I don't believe the consequences that the media are saying will happen (with a no vote). I think they are totally fake so I will vote no," said school teacher Antonis Lambropoulos.
    Tsipras' opponents accuse him of gambling Greece's future on a rapid-fire plebiscite that a major European rights watchdog says falls short of international standards of fairness.
    European policy makers have issued fresh warnings of the costs of a 'No' vote in a plebiscite called with just eight days' notice after the breakdown of talks with the European Commission, the IMF and the European Central Bank.
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