Tsipras: Referendum Not about if Greece Stays or Leaves Euro

After a day of unbelievable psychological warfare and threats, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras made another public television address to the nation urging a “No” vote in the Sunday, July 5th referendum. He denounced the British Empire-run campaign of lies and blackmail.

Regarding the government’s decision to close the banks, he blamed “extreme circles” who “blackmail ordinary citizens” by refusing to extend liquidity to the Greek banks, reported Athens-Macedonia News Agency. He said:

He called for Greeks to vote “No,” as representing the people’s clear choice of how they want to live on the day after, and for return to values in Europe, as well as strong pressure for a sustainable and fairer agreement. He said the referendum on July 5 does not constitute a coup, but that it’s the “appointed governments” who led to such an event. “I call on you to say no to memorandum formulas that are destroying Europe,” he said, adding that a “no” vote was an obligation to history. He also promised that wages, pensions, and the savings of those that had elected not to transfer their money abroad will not be lost.

Meanwhile, Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis told Russia 24 TV network that Greece has a backup plan if the EU cuts off funding.  Lafazanis said: “The situation is very difficult but we shouldn’t allow [creditors] the opportunity to exploit us…The lack of funding from the European Union is not the end of the world. There are other sources of funding.”

Lafazanis said that Greece is not collapsing because banks have been closed. He said:

Lafazanis said it was too early to reveal the details of Athens’ Plan B, because the government is still holding out the option of coming to an agreement with its European “partners.”