Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI |
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ATHENS, Greece, June 27 (UPI) -- Greeks are rushing to ATMs after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for a July 5 referendum on the final offer made by bailout creditors, leaving the country's citizens uncertain about their future with the European currency.
According to the Financial Times, the Greek banking system is relying on the European Central Bank for special support due to thousands of people lining up to get cash out of concern their account balances will soon be worthless.
"Tsipras is playing a very dangerous game with the referendum. The real question is 'in or out of the euro,' and from what he said yesterday, he wants out. He lied to the electorate and is playing with people's livelihoods," Nikos Stavrakakis, a lawyer, told the Wall Street Journal.
During an early morning press conference held Saturday, Tsipras announced a deal that could leave Greece's future with the European Union up to a popular vote.
"Our responsibility is for the future of our country. This responsibility obliges us to respond to the ultimatum through the sovereign will of the Greek people," he said.
The current bailout program is set is expire Tuesday, which could lead the country's banks to collapse.
Former Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis called the referendum a "foolish choice," reports Voice of America. "The nation's most vital interests demand that the country remains at the heart of Europe. The EU's actual shortcomings do not, in any way, negate this...," he said.
Finance ministers from 19 countries are set to gather in an emergency session to discuss the situation at hand in Brussels, Belgium, Saturday.
