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| We're not traitors, insist Greece's yes campaigners | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Thousands of flag-waving Greeks gathered in a summer thunderstorm outside the parliament in Athens on Tuesday to insist their country belonged in the European Union and warn that leaving would lead to calamity. | Thousands of flag-waving Greeks gathered in a summer thunderstorm outside the parliament in Athens on Tuesday to insist their country belonged in the European Union and warn that leaving would lead to calamity. |
| “It would take us so far backwards – a generation or more,” said Ellie Douka, an employee of a non-profit company. “It’ll be economic, social, cultural Armageddon,” said Yiorgio Economos, a junior executive in a shipping firm. “This is just so dangerous. It’s absolutely imperative that we stay in.” | “It would take us so far backwards – a generation or more,” said Ellie Douka, an employee of a non-profit company. “It’ll be economic, social, cultural Armageddon,” said Yiorgio Economos, a junior executive in a shipping firm. “This is just so dangerous. It’s absolutely imperative that we stay in.” |
| The situation is volatile. I can only hope that we are not going to commit national suicide | The situation is volatile. I can only hope that we are not going to commit national suicide |
| Five days before a referendum that many interpret as asking them whether they are prepared to accept more austerity as the price of remaining in the euro and EU, the yes camp is starting to getting its act together. | Five days before a referendum that many interpret as asking them whether they are prepared to accept more austerity as the price of remaining in the euro and EU, the yes camp is starting to getting its act together. |
| “There’s no plan, no plan at all, for if we leave,” said Lydia, a designer wearing a white silk suit and carrying a large multicoloured umbrella against the unseasonal downpour. “How could they even think of putting the country at such risk? It’s madness.” | “There’s no plan, no plan at all, for if we leave,” said Lydia, a designer wearing a white silk suit and carrying a large multicoloured umbrella against the unseasonal downpour. “How could they even think of putting the country at such risk? It’s madness.” |
| Takis Liberdopoulos, who imports industrial machinery, said: “Greece has to stay in – its our only protection against what this government is planning.” | Takis Liberdopoulos, who imports industrial machinery, said: “Greece has to stay in – its our only protection against what this government is planning.” |
| The offices of the Greek Tourism Confederation have turned almost overnight into the nerve centre of a burgeoning citizens’ campaign. Unions, NGOs, professional associations, chambers of commerce, municipalities, farmers, businessmen and academics have signed up. | The offices of the Greek Tourism Confederation have turned almost overnight into the nerve centre of a burgeoning citizens’ campaign. Unions, NGOs, professional associations, chambers of commerce, municipalities, farmers, businessmen and academics have signed up. |
| Prominent figures from the world of arts and sports are starting to lend their names, too, to a movement whose slogan is: “Yes to Greece, Yes to the euro.” | Prominent figures from the world of arts and sports are starting to lend their names, too, to a movement whose slogan is: “Yes to Greece, Yes to the euro.” |
| “It’s grassroots, it’s real and it’s spreading on and off line,” said Xenophon Petropoulos, a British-trained communications expert helping the campaign. | “It’s grassroots, it’s real and it’s spreading on and off line,” said Xenophon Petropoulos, a British-trained communications expert helping the campaign. |
| Related: IMF: austerity measures would still leave Greece with unsustainable debt | Related: IMF: austerity measures would still leave Greece with unsustainable debt |
| Just as in 1974 – when Greeks held their only other referendum, rejecting the monarchy in favour of democracy – political parties are taking a back seat: association could ruin what many are presenting as a non-partisan movement. | Just as in 1974 – when Greeks held their only other referendum, rejecting the monarchy in favour of democracy – political parties are taking a back seat: association could ruin what many are presenting as a non-partisan movement. |
| “This is about the broader political question of where Greece belongs,” said the former economics minister Yannos Papantoniou, who steered the country into the euro in 2001. “I am very afraid that if the no [campaign] wins, things might get out of control here.” | “This is about the broader political question of where Greece belongs,” said the former economics minister Yannos Papantoniou, who steered the country into the euro in 2001. “I am very afraid that if the no [campaign] wins, things might get out of control here.” |
| Kostis Hadzidikis, a former MEP and minister from the centre-right New Democracy party, said the message was: “We vote yes to Europe, yes to the euro – and yes to continued negotiations with our creditors for an acceptable agreement.” | Kostis Hadzidikis, a former MEP and minister from the centre-right New Democracy party, said the message was: “We vote yes to Europe, yes to the euro – and yes to continued negotiations with our creditors for an acceptable agreement.” |
| People were seriously worried, Hadzidikis said: “The situation is volatile. I can only hope that we are not going to commit national suicide. We have to remain part of the European Union; we cannot become a second-class European state.” | People were seriously worried, Hadzidikis said: “The situation is volatile. I can only hope that we are not going to commit national suicide. We have to remain part of the European Union; we cannot become a second-class European state.” |
| The yes camp has the support of Greece’s wealthiest businesses and, importantly, media owners, as well as many older conservative and centre-left voters and young professionals, often educated abroad. | The yes camp has the support of Greece’s wealthiest businesses and, importantly, media owners, as well as many older conservative and centre-left voters and young professionals, often educated abroad. |
| The yes rally appeared to be larger than the previous evening’s no gathering and the protesters were noticeably better-off – men in expensive shirts, women in designer gear and jewellery. | The yes rally appeared to be larger than the previous evening’s no gathering and the protesters were noticeably better-off – men in expensive shirts, women in designer gear and jewellery. |
| “I believe the future of Greece is aligned with Europe,” said Alex Nikolopoulos, the chief operating officer of an online travel agency which, he said, had seen bookings by Greek customers plummet by 80% since last Friday when leftist prime minister Alexis Tsipras called the surprise referendum. | “I believe the future of Greece is aligned with Europe,” said Alex Nikolopoulos, the chief operating officer of an online travel agency which, he said, had seen bookings by Greek customers plummet by 80% since last Friday when leftist prime minister Alexis Tsipras called the surprise referendum. |
| “We got ourselves into this situation. We have a history of corruption and graft and, unfortunately, one government after the other over the past 40 years has driven us to where we are now,” Nikolopoulos said. | “We got ourselves into this situation. We have a history of corruption and graft and, unfortunately, one government after the other over the past 40 years has driven us to where we are now,” Nikolopoulos said. |
| “But our European partners supported us when we needed it. The terms weren’t perfect; I’d have liked more focus on investment, less on austerity. But we are still way better off staying in the euro on an imperfect deal than leaving.” | “But our European partners supported us when we needed it. The terms weren’t perfect; I’d have liked more focus on investment, less on austerity. But we are still way better off staying in the euro on an imperfect deal than leaving.” |
| Anti-austerity voters say that while exiting the euro would certainly be painful, it would be a price worth paying to end the “economic asphyxiation” and “social catastrophe” of cuts and to recover national dignity. | Anti-austerity voters say that while exiting the euro would certainly be painful, it would be a price worth paying to end the “economic asphyxiation” and “social catastrophe” of cuts and to recover national dignity. |
| The yes camp argues that a Grexit – and subsequent return to the drachma – would trigger rampant inflation, mass defaults and bankruptcies, further deprivation and political unrest – and that such a high price is not worth paying. | The yes camp argues that a Grexit – and subsequent return to the drachma – would trigger rampant inflation, mass defaults and bankruptcies, further deprivation and political unrest – and that such a high price is not worth paying. |
| Zoe Kourounakou, who lectures in European and international relations for a leading Athens business school,said: “Many people don’t realise that, for example, voting no doesn’t mean wiping out Greece’s debts. Those debts will still exist; they’ll just be in a heavily devalued national currency and be many, many times more expensive to repay.” | Zoe Kourounakou, who lectures in European and international relations for a leading Athens business school,said: “Many people don’t realise that, for example, voting no doesn’t mean wiping out Greece’s debts. Those debts will still exist; they’ll just be in a heavily devalued national currency and be many, many times more expensive to repay.” |
| Kourounakou said she would prefer “hard but reasonable and effective measures. The package should ideally be more about growth and development, and about greater efficiencies – much better tax collection, for example”. | Kourounakou said she would prefer “hard but reasonable and effective measures. The package should ideally be more about growth and development, and about greater efficiencies – much better tax collection, for example”. |
| But whatever the deal on offer, Tsipras should never have left the talks, she said. “If you want to negotiate, you have to be in the room. Otherwise you negotiate as enemies, not friends. And it’s naive to believe that just because of a referendum, the other leaders will welcome you back.” | But whatever the deal on offer, Tsipras should never have left the talks, she said. “If you want to negotiate, you have to be in the room. Otherwise you negotiate as enemies, not friends. And it’s naive to believe that just because of a referendum, the other leaders will welcome you back.” |
| Analysts believe Greek opinion is evenly divided between yes and no, and the debate is becoming increasingly heated. | Analysts believe Greek opinion is evenly divided between yes and no, and the debate is becoming increasingly heated. |
| Like many in the yes camp, Spyros Petropoulos, a commercial lawyer, said he resented being branded a “traitor, even a German-lover” by some anti-austerity voters. | Like many in the yes camp, Spyros Petropoulos, a commercial lawyer, said he resented being branded a “traitor, even a German-lover” by some anti-austerity voters. |
| “I’ve worked hard, I’ve worked well, I’ve contributed to what’s left of the economy and I’ve made sure people can be paid their salaries and their pensions,” he said. “I’m proud of that, actually. But I see why people feel so strongly. Greece is suffering and Greece needs change and there are a lot of people who think radical change is the only answer. You have to respect where they’re coming from.” | “I’ve worked hard, I’ve worked well, I’ve contributed to what’s left of the economy and I’ve made sure people can be paid their salaries and their pensions,” he said. “I’m proud of that, actually. But I see why people feel so strongly. Greece is suffering and Greece needs change and there are a lot of people who think radical change is the only answer. You have to respect where they’re coming from.” |
| Most recent polls show a narrowing majority of Greeks are eager to stay in the euro, but at the same time reluctant to accept the additional austerity demanded by creditors as the price for continued membership in the bloc. | Most recent polls show a narrowing majority of Greeks are eager to stay in the euro, but at the same time reluctant to accept the additional austerity demanded by creditors as the price for continued membership in the bloc. |
| Vasilis Papakonstantinou, a management lecturer, said leaving the euro would be disastrous. “I can understand an unemployed graduate might not see things that way, but I believe Greece would be entering a new era of hardship like we haven’t seen here for nearly a century,” he said. | Vasilis Papakonstantinou, a management lecturer, said leaving the euro would be disastrous. “I can understand an unemployed graduate might not see things that way, but I believe Greece would be entering a new era of hardship like we haven’t seen here for nearly a century,” he said. |