Brussels, 30/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 30 July, the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, suggested that a referendum be held within the Syriza party on the approach to be adopted towards the conditions of the bailout plan under the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) currently being negotiated.
In a speech before the central committee of Syriza on Thursday, Tsipras said that the decision as to the party's strategy should not be taken in haste and proposed that a referendum be held within the party this Sunday 2 August if necessary. “I propose to the central committee (of Syriza) to hold an emergency congress to discuss (…) our strategy in the face of bailout conditions”, said Tsipras, the Greek press reports.
“But there is another view, which is respected, that doesn't accept the government's analysis and believes that there was an alternative available in the early morning hours of 13 July”, when Greece gave in to its European partners at the Eurozone Summit, to allow discussions on the third bailout plan to be launched. If this view is still held, “then I suggest the party hold a referendum on this crucial question”, he added.
Some 30 Syriza MPs rejected the first two packages of measures the Greek government had to put to the national parliament to allow these discussions to start, in line with the agreement reached with the eurozone. It is also worth noting that on Wednesday 29 July, Tsipras did not rule out the possibility of early elections. (Elodie Lamer)