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As you all know, on the 26th and 27th of October we took crucial historical decisions for Europe and for the eurozone. These decisions of course also were crucial and are crucial for Greece. I believe in the many benefits they have for Greece: benefits for growth, benefits for lowering the burden of debt on the Greek people, benefits for a strong package of support for the next few years, where we can actually put our house in order and make Greece a viable economy.
These decisions of course come with responsibilities. And there are important responsibilities. This will change the future, not only today but of the future generations. Positive.
But of course there are many that disputed these positive aspects, and I felt that it was important that the Greek people make a decision on these important developments and the decision we made in the Council of October 26th. It’s their democratic right, and the Greek people I believe are mature and wise to make the decision that is to the benefit of the Greek people and the country.
We are part of the eurozone. Being part of the eurozone, we are very proud, and being part of the eurozone is both having many rights but also many obligations. And I believe it’s crucial that we show the world that we can live up to our obligations. We can live up to these obligations, and this is crucial for our future participation in the eurozone.
So I informed my counterparts that, after consulting with the Cabinet in Greece yesterday, that we could move the referendum as soon as possible, organise it as soon as possible, and we believe that we can have a referendum possibly on the 4th of December.
I will be returning to Greece and consulting of course with my counterparts in the other parties, the leaders of the other parties of the opposition, to inform them of the discussions we have had and of course of the importance of these decisions that we are taking.
I believe that the Greek people, as I said, are wise and capable of making the right discussions, for the benefit of our country. And a positive decision, a positive decision by the Greek people, is not only a positive decision for Greece; it is a positive decision for Europe.
JOURNALIST: What did Sarkozy and Merkel tell you?
MR. G. PAPANDREOU: I informed them that we need to have a wide consensus, because the programme we are facing is difficult, is difficult in implementation, but I believe the Greek people want us to be a strong partner in the euro, in the eurozone, a strong partner in Europe, and that this is at stake. This is at stake.
It’s not the moment to give you the exact wording, but the essence is that this is not a question only of a programme. This is a question of whether we want to remain in the eurozone. That’s very clear. That should be clear to everyone.
I believe that this will be a positive outcome. I believe the Greek people want us to remain in the eurozone, and I believe that this referendum will show so.
JOURNALIST: And if they say no, do you have plan? If they say no?
MR. G. PAPANDREOU: I want to say that we will have a yes.
JOURNALIST: Can you tell us if you are confident the Parliament is going to approve the referendum?
MR. G. PAPANDREOU: First of all, we have, as you know, a confidence vote by Friday, and so then this is our first battle.
JOURNALIST: Are you confident about that? Are you going to win the confidence vote?
MR. G. PAPANDREOU: Well, I do hope so, but obviously this is a democratic process.
JOURNALIST: Without EUR8 billion, will you go bankrupt?
MR. G. PAPANDREOU: Ah, you are now talking about the sixth tranche. Well, of course that is if everything goes well, which we hope everything will go well in the referendum. It’s quite a few days before the sixth tranche is needed to pay up salaries and pensions and so on.
So I believe that, as the programme is as we have the roadmap, that the dates we have are in accordance with the positive disbursement of the sixth tranche.
JOURNALIST: Are you 100% sure about the referendum?
MR. G. PAPANDREOU: I have said over and over again in Greece that we need a wider consensus. I have tried for a wider consensus with all the parties. I have talked many times with the leaders. And if there is a wider consensus, obviously we would not need a referendum. But this wider consensus did not exist.
But I do believe there is a wide consensus amongst the Greek people. And that’s why I want the Greek people to speak. And the Greek people will speak soon. Thank you.
