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Merkel ‘Did Propose’ Eurozone Membership Referendum

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Officials in the Greek presidential administration say a report about German Chancellor Angela Merkel's proposal that Greece hold a referendum on its membership in the Eurozone is true

Officials in the Greek presidential administration say a report about German Chancellor Angela Merkel's proposal that Greece hold a referendum on its membership in the Eurozone is true, the Athens News Agency reported.

On Friday, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tsiodras said Merkel had suggested in a telephone conversation with Greek President Karolos Papoulias to hold a referendum on Greece's Eurozone membership during parliamentary elections on June 17.

A spokeswoman for the German government denied the report later on Friday, saying it was “untrue.”

According to the Athens News Agency, when asked to comment on Berlin’s refutation of the report, unidentified officials in the Greek presidential administration said the Greek government’s statement “reflects the reality.”

Greece is trying to avoid default and withdrawal from the Eurozone by implementing an austerity program in exchange for multi-billion-dollar loans from the EU and International Monetary Fund.

Athens is planning further austerity measures to save some $33 billion through 2015. The country's total debt has ballooned to $490 billion.

Leaders of Greece’s major political parties have denounced Merkel’s perceived proposal.

Antonis Samaras, the New Democracy party leader, said the proposal “is at least unfortunate and may not be accepted.”

“The Greek nation does not need a referendum to prove its choice in favor of the euro - a choice it is defending with bloodied victims,” he said.

Alexis Tsipras, leader of Greece's Syriza coalition of radical left-wing parties, warned Merkel against treating Greece as a “protectorate,” while the Communist Party described the reported proposal as “arrogant blackmailing.”

 

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