Greek referendum - some info from the inside
Greek referendum
So, most of you will probably have heard about next Sunday’s ‘δημοψήφισμα’, the Greek people’s say on the future of their country. The 5 of July decides whether Greece will stay in the Euro, and thus accept all the austerity measures that the EU are forcing upon them, or leave for a different currency, most probably the drachma. Here I will be giving you some interesting facts and opinions from the inside of the country.
The vote is a yes or no vote, yes being to accept the austerity measures, and no being against them, which will mean leaving the Euro. So basically, the vote will decide whether or not Greece will stay in the Euro.
Referendum question:
'Greek people are hereby asked to decide whether they accept a draft agreement document submitted by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, at the Eurogroup meeting held on June 25'
So what effects will the referendum have?
Yes vote: A vote to stay in the euro would mean accepting the EU's austerity measures - the main two being pension cuts and civil worker's jobs.
No vote: The way the eurozone is going and it's commitment to austerity actually makes it very hard to make reforms. One of the principal benefits of having their own currency for Greece would be to return control of their own affairs to them. When you join a single currency, when you use a currency that isn't your's you give up control of your own economy. You adopt the policies of everybody using that currency, and in particular the policies of the strongest member, which in this case is Germany.
A new currency would immediately have to devalue vis-a-vis the euro. That would trigger inflation. Greece imports 48% of its food from abroad. Greece imports 80% of its energy, in particular fossil fuels. You would have pharmaceutical products that would become exorbitantly expensive, and would quickly create shortages. Also, it would be much harder for people with debts to repay them.
Either outcome will have a historic impact on Greece.
What is the government’s opinion? Tsipras’ government have advised the country to vote ‘no’, although he has lost popularity since the end of the elections, so it is debateable whether or not the country will follow his advice.
Varoufakis has claimed that Greece will still stay in the euro if they vote no.
What is happening in Greece at the moment?
Citizens are very concerned - everyone can only get out 60 euros per day from the ATMs, because over the weekend when the referendum was announced everyone rushed to the banks to withdraw their money, and by Saturday morning they had run out. The TV is scaremongering people into a yes vote. Most stuff on social media is 'No' campaigners saying to stay strong and do what's right, while the 'Yes' voters are complaining about the 'No' people telling the 'yes' voters to be ashamed of themselves (although that might just be relevent for my facebook). Because 47% of Greece's food and 80% it's energy is imported, lots of people are loading up on imported goods. Although we live in a predominantly right-wing area, the 'no posters are far more prevelent.
What are the views of the people?
The polls are saying that people are inclined to a 'yes' vote, with 43%, while 'no' are just behind with 37%. The rest still haven't made up their mind.
'No to austerity, yes to democracy' - although some people still disagree with the whole concept of a referendum at all. 'Prime ministers are to make decisions, even the bastard Papandreou knew that.' Some pessimists have been describing the scene of 'the wrong decision' to me: ''You will be walking through Kyparissia square and be seeing lines of people you know, classmates and friends, queuing up for a bowl of soup so they don't die of hunger.''
Whatever decision the Greek people make this Sunday, be sure children of the future will be learning about it in their history books.
Feedback is very highly appreciated, so please leave some in the comments section!
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