Varoufakis: ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ a deal will be signed – Video shows him precluding referendum

Eurogroup head promptly denied the statement

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said a deal between Greece and its creditors is almost agreed upon regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s referendum.

Speaking to an Irish radio station on Friday, Varoufakis reportedly said there had been private contacts between the Greek government the EU and ECB during the week.

“We were in private talks with the ECB and the EU this week and they tabled some proposals to us”, said Varoufakis. He stated that if the ‘yes’ vote wins the government will sign a deal on Monday. In the event of a ‘no’ vote prevailing he stressed that the agreement to be signed will include a debt write-off.

His statements were later denied by Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem.

Moreover, the Greek FinMin has promised to resign if a “yes” votes brings forth an agreement that does not include a debt restructuring.

In the video below (in Greek), Varoufakis tells a television audience that “if a referendum occurs, it will be about Greece remaining in the euro.”

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More of Yanis, who appeared on the late-night news programme “Enikos”, presented by Nikos Hatzinikolaou.

“It would be foolish for us to go to a referendum, as we have a popular mandate and a huge popularity (referring to opinion polls at the time). What would be the reason, given that the Greek people’s decision is so recent?” he said in May 2015.

In response to audience members’ questions, he added:

“It’s foolish to again head to the Greek people and say, vote for us again. A referendum is something that remains as a political opportunity. However, it is unfair for the Greek citizen to again go through this process; to state his opinion, in other words, with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.”