Should SYRIZA’s leadership and the other political parties accept a proposal for a referendum is something they have to declare now, former PASOK prime minister George Papandreou declared from Crete.

The veteran Greek socialist politician founded and leads a new party called the Movement of Democratic Socialists, which polls show under the 3-percent figure needed to enter Parliament.

On Thursday evening, he spoke in an Iraklio, Crete rally, telling gathered supporters that “what is said now is the same as three years ago”.

“We were the ones to propose a referendum plan.”

Among other things, he pointed out that “we don’t need further austerity, but however, great changes must be made”.

“There was enough money back in 2009, as there would be now if we were to reconstruct the Greek state and make it fully functional,” he said, adding that “the referendum offered some serious leverage in the negotiation with our European partners.”