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How Tsipras reached his decision to call for a referendum, and the call for a "'no" vote that has damaged relations with the EU in June 2015

01/28/2013

During the last minute negotiations Tsipras veered from one side to the other. Initially he moved closer to Syriza party leaders who favored an accomodation with the IMF and EU, yet with each rejection of Greece's proposals he moved closer to the confrontational postiion of finance minister Varoufakis. The IMF and EU negotiators considered higher taxes on business in the Greek proposals hurting long term growth, and insisted on pension cuts. Greece's negotiating team was still negotiating over details when Tsipras called off talks and surprised European leaders with his call for a referendum. His announcement that Syriza would call for a no was badly received by EU leaders and Merkel, leading to a breakdown in trust. The inexperience of 40 year old Tsipras and the faculty professor Varoufakis's lack of experience with negotiations, may now have damaged relations between Greece and Germany. The reaction in Germany to this is that now a majority of Germans see Greece's exit from the eurozone as the best option, and the goodwill of leaders in France, Italy and Spain may have been lost.

Grouped Articles

How Alexis Tsipras’s Greek Referendum Call Came After Creditors Covered His Proposals in Red Ink

Wall Street Journal 06.29.2015

Nektaria Stamouli And Marcus Walker, Nektaria, Stamouli, And, Marcus, Walker

Greece Will Shut Banks in Fallout From Debt Crisis

New York Times 06.28.2015

Jim Yardley, Jim, Yardley

Europe, Athens Battle for Greek Hearts and Minds Ahead of Referendum

Wall Street Journal 06.30.2015

Nektaria Stamouli And Gabriele Steinhauser, Nektaria, Stamouli, And, Gabriele, Steinhauser

With Loan Deadline Looming, Europe Offers Greece a Last-Minute Deal

New York Times 06.29.2015

Andrew Higgins, Andrew, Higgins, Alison Smale, Alison, Smale

Greece’s Future, and the Euro’s

New York Times 06.29.2015

The Editorial Board, The, Editorial, Board

Suicide Isn’t Painless

Wall Street Journal 07.02.2015

Editorial

IMF Raises Referendum Stakes With Call for More Aid for Greece and Debt Relief

Wall Street Journal 07.03.2015

Viktoria Dendrinou, Viktoria, Dendrinou, Nektaria Stamouli And Ian Talley, Nektaria, Stamouli, And, Ian, Talley

Collapse of Greek Bailout Deal Brings Surprise Boost to German Coffers

Wall Street Journal 07.04.2015

Andrea Thomas, Andrea, Thomas

Bailout Referendum Lays Bare Deep Schisms Among Beleaguered Greeks

New York Times 07.04.2015

Liz Alderman, Liz, Alderman

Greeks Reject Bailout Terms in Rebuff to European Leaders

New York Times 07.05.2015

Suzanne Daley, Suzanne, Daley

“No“ to what?

Economist 07.04.2015

Economist.Com

Merkel, Hollande Say Greece Needs Proposals for Brussels Meeting on Crisis

Wall Street Journal 07.06.2015

Matthew Dalton And William Horobin, Matthew, Dalton, And, William, Horobin

Greek ‘No’ May Have Its Roots in Heroic Myths and Real Resistance

New York Times 07.06.2015

Suzanne Daley, Suzanne, Daley, Anemona Hartocollis, Anemona, Hartocollis

Stephens: The Conscience of a Radical

Wall Street Journal 01.28.2013

Bret Stephens, Bret, Stephens

Greek Debt Crisis: In Athens, Jubilation Gives Way to Dismay and Confusion

Wall Street Journal 07.13.2015

Matina Stevis And Georgi Kantchev, Matina, Stevis, And, Georgi, Kantchev

Hopeful Start to Greek Debt Negotiations Quickly Soured

New York Times 07.02.2015

Landon Thomas Jr., Landon, Thomas, Jr.

Greek Referendum on Offer That Is Off the Table Baffles Voters

New York Times 07.02.2015

Jim Yardley, Jim, Yardley

Greek Prime Minister Tsipras Faces Voter Anger - SPIEGEL ONLINE

SPIEGEL ONLINE 11.01.2016

Spiegel Online, Hamburg, Germany