Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-05-19

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Parties assail referendum proposal; Berlin denies reports

[01] Parties assail referendum proposal; Berlin denies reports

New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras said, in a statement, that the Greek people "do not need a referendum to prove that they choose the euro."

"A choice," he added, "which they defend with blood-stained sacrifices. But the Greek people are entitled to the respect of their partners. Friday's proposal by Mrs. Merkel on a referendum, and indeed during an election campaign, is unfortunate, to say the least, and it cannot be accepted. Because it is addressed to the Greek people at the wrong time and with the wrong message."

Earlier on Friday evening, the caretaker prime minister's press office disclosed the content of a telephone conversation between Chancellor Merkel and Greek President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, according to which the German chancellor "...also conveyed to the President of the Republic thoughts for the holding of a referendum alongside the June 17 general elections, with the question of whether the Greek citizens desire Greece to remain in the eurozone."

On their part, the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) also reacted strongly to Chancellor Merkel's purported proposal.

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras stressed that "Mrs. Merkel is used to addressing the political leadership of Greece as if it is a protectorate. She has been given this right by Mr. (PASOK leader Evangelos) Venizelos and Mr. Samaras with their stance and their letters."

The SYRIZA leader added that the Greek people will give Merkel a negative reply in the June 17 elections.

Referring to the same issue, KKE spoke of "crude extortion" against the people and support for the parties of the "euro one-way path", rejecting Merkel's proposal on the holding of a referendum.

"It is also yet more proof that the abolition of the memorandums and the barbaric measures requires a clash with the EU," an announcement by KKE said.

A spokesperson of the German Chancellery told the DPA press agency, in reply to a question on whether Merkel recommended to Athens to hold such a referendum, that "these resports are not true."

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