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> Politics

Minor ‘mutiny’ within rightist coalition partner ahead of ‘Greferendum’

Trio derides holding of referendum -- Οne of three, Damavolitis, later expelled from party

Newsroom July 2 12:36

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At least three Parliament deputies of the anti-austerity, rightist-populist Independent Greeks (AN.EL) party, Vassilis Kokkalis, Kostas Damavolitis and Dimitris Kammenos, will apparently not “toe the party line” ahead of Sunday’s hastily called referendum by the radical leftist government.

The first two MPs said on Thursday that they would vote ‘yes’ on Sunday’s referendum, opposing their party’s position of ‘no’ to the last (and now withdrawn) proposal by creditors last week.

Kammenos, not to be confused with party leader and current DM Panos Kammenos, said he was opposed to the holding of the snap referendum, and called for its immediate cancellation.

“…There is NO issue of a referendum in such conditions of polarization, with the Greek people called on to decide YES or NO over a proposal by the institutions, one that the government itself had already accepted as a basis for a continuation of negotations,” Dimitris Kammenos wrote.

Kokkalis warned that in these critical times citizens and politicians should rise to the occasion, while Damavolitis said the referendum is essentially a dilemma between the remaining in the Eurozone and a return to the drachma.

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He made it clear during an appearance on a local television station that he would “vote for Europe”, as his election was not based on capital controls and bail-ins — the dreaded ‘haircut’ of bank deposits. He also called on Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos to convene a political party leaders council to cancel the referendum.

Taking to FB, he said that canceling the referendum is imperative for reasons of national unity.

Damavolitis, speaking on a radio station, said the choice has come down to either breaking off from Europe or even harsher measures. He doubted whether a ‘no’ majority on Monday would boost the SYRIZA government’s negotiating position with creditors.

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