Greece proceeds with vote plan as creditors rebuff overture
ATHENS — The Greek government vowed Wednesday to go ahead with plans to have the people decide whether they want more austerity measures in exchange for a rescue deal.
Greece offered more concessions to its creditors, but was rebuffed — Eurozone finance ministers refused to negotiate any more aid until the referendum clears up what the country wants.
The moves came on a fast-paced day of zigs-and-zags that saw the Greek prime minister back off his earlier refusal to consider creditors’ belt-tightening demands, yet hold firm on putting the measures to a popular vote.
“Given the political situation, the rejection of the previous proposals, the referendum which will take place on Sunday, and the recommendation by the Greek government to vote ‘No,' we see no grounds for further talks at this point,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who heads the eurozone finance ministers’ body known as the eurogroup.
“There will be no talks in the coming days, either at eurogroup level or between the Greek authorities and the institutions on proposals or financial arrangements,” Dijsselbloem said,
Sunday’s hastily called referendum is based on creditor reform proposals made last week and roundly rejected by the Greek government.