Greece hints at referendum over EU rescue demands

Market Watch

Published: Mar 9, 2015 2:45 a.m. ET

By MICHAEL KITCHEN ASIA EDITOR

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Greek officials say they may hold a referendum on whether to accept terms from the European Union over further aid to their country, according to various media reports. "We can go back to elections. Call a referendum ... But, as my prime minister told me, we are not glued to our seats yet," Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, in an interview that published Sunday.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also hinted at taking any deal to the people. "If we were to hold a referendum tomorrow with the question, 'Do you want your dignity or a continuation of this unworthy policy?' then everyone would choose dignity regardless of difficulties that would accompany that decision," Tsipras told Der Spiegel Magazine, according to a Bloomberg News report. The Eurogroup -- a forum of finance ministers from nations using the euro currency -- was due to meet Monday to discuss the Greek rescue package, though several officials from the bloc indicated that no decision on the next aid tranche was expected.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/greece-hints-at-referendum-over-eu-rescue-demands-2015-03-08