Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addresess an anti-austerity rally at the Syntagma square in Athens. (Agence France-Presse)
Athens:
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addressed a crowd of 25,000 people who flooded the Syntagma Square in Athens on Friday, the last day of campaigning before Sunday's referendum. It was his last chance to urge voters to say "no" at the referendum as rival rallies of "yes" and "no" camps took place through the week in the streets of central Athens.
The standoff between European institutions and Greece has continued after Greece's non-payment of 1.6 billion euros to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which was due on Tuesday.
Greek banks now have a "liquidity cushion" of 1 billion euros up to next Monday, the Greece bankers association said on Friday.
Sunday's referendum will ask people if Greece should accept the proposal made by its European creditors on the 25th of June, 2015.
PM Tsipras' Friday night speech hinted that the "no" vote would not mean a "no" to Europe. This could throw off at least some of those who were planning to vote "yes" because they want to stay in Europe.
However, a "yes" vote could lead to the current government having to step down creating political instability in a crisis ridden Greece.
Greek voters are split down the middle over whether they should vote "yes" or "no".
The Greek PM told cheering crowds, "We are again sending a message of hope to the people, because on Sunday we are not only deciding simply to stay in Europe, we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe, to work, and to thrive in Europe, to be equals among equals in Europe."
The radical left government led by Syriza won elections in January with the promise to end austerity.
NDTV spoke to those who had come to listen to PM Tsipras speak. When asked if PM Tsipras' move to take an aggressive stance against European leaders could be a dangerous one, a Greek voter said, "We are a free country. We will vote freely. A big no a big no. We are not afraid and we can decide for our future".
Another felt Tsipras was the only one "willing to fight". Some even thought his approach was "not radical enough".
The Syntagma square was resonating with chants of "Oxi! Oxi" ("No! No!). PM Tsipras' rally is likely to give a big boost to the "no" vote whereas opinion polls earlier this week showed the "yes" vote had been gaining ground.
The decision will only be clear on Sunday night after 10.30pm IST.
The standoff between European institutions and Greece has continued after Greece's non-payment of 1.6 billion euros to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which was due on Tuesday.
Greek banks now have a "liquidity cushion" of 1 billion euros up to next Monday, the Greece bankers association said on Friday.
Sunday's referendum will ask people if Greece should accept the proposal made by its European creditors on the 25th of June, 2015.
PM Tsipras' Friday night speech hinted that the "no" vote would not mean a "no" to Europe. This could throw off at least some of those who were planning to vote "yes" because they want to stay in Europe.
However, a "yes" vote could lead to the current government having to step down creating political instability in a crisis ridden Greece.
Greek voters are split down the middle over whether they should vote "yes" or "no".
The Greek PM told cheering crowds, "We are again sending a message of hope to the people, because on Sunday we are not only deciding simply to stay in Europe, we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe, to work, and to thrive in Europe, to be equals among equals in Europe."
The radical left government led by Syriza won elections in January with the promise to end austerity.
NDTV spoke to those who had come to listen to PM Tsipras speak. When asked if PM Tsipras' move to take an aggressive stance against European leaders could be a dangerous one, a Greek voter said, "We are a free country. We will vote freely. A big no a big no. We are not afraid and we can decide for our future".
Another felt Tsipras was the only one "willing to fight". Some even thought his approach was "not radical enough".
The Syntagma square was resonating with chants of "Oxi! Oxi" ("No! No!). PM Tsipras' rally is likely to give a big boost to the "no" vote whereas opinion polls earlier this week showed the "yes" vote had been gaining ground.
The decision will only be clear on Sunday night after 10.30pm IST.
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