Rival rallies in Greece as PM urges ‘no’ vote to 'live with dignity in Europe’

Greeks took to the streets in the tens of thousands on Friday in rival rallies that laid bare the deep divide heading into a referendum that may decide the country’s future in Europe’s single currency. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, elected in January on a promise to end six years of austerity, exhorted a packed Syntagma Square in central Athens to spurn the tough terms of an aid deal offered by international creditors to keep the country afloat. His European partners say a “no” vote would jeopardize Greece’s place in the euro. Tsipras says they are bluffing, fearing the fallout for Europe and the global economy. But a “yes” vote may bring him down, ushering in a new period of political instability for a country reeling from five days of shuttered banks and rationed cash withdrawals.

On Sunday, we are not just deciding that we are staying in Europe, but that we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras

Framing Sunday’s ballot as a battle for democracy, freedom and European values, the 40-year-old left-wing leader told Greeks to “turn your backs on those who terrorize you daily.“ Tsipras’ opponents accuse him of gambling Greece’s future with a rapid-fire plebiscite that a major European rights watchdog says falls short of international standards of fairness. Three opinion polls published on Friday had the "yes” vote marginally ahead, a fourth put the “no” camp 0.5 percent in front, but all were well within the margin of error. Greece owes $358 billion, a crippling amount that is 180 percent of its annual output.

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