The polls of the critical referendum are set to close in a few minutes at 7pm (Athens time). A first assessment of the results will be made public at around 9pm.
The first safe assessment of the final results will be publicized at 9pm, provided that the results from 10% of polling stations from across the country have been collected and the difference is over 4%, to compensate for statistical error.
There were minor problems reported in a few polling stations in Athens, mostly due to a shortage of envelopes, however the situation was addressed my midday. In Ikaria two polling stations were late to open after the judicial representatives were lost on their way.
The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker commented that he welcomes the referendum results in Greece and will attempt to contact Greek official later on Sunday evening.
Earlier, State Minister Nikos Pappas disputed reports that a depositor haircut was being planned. Mr. Pappas stressed that the government is working towards normalizing the operation of the banks.
Meanwhile, New Democracy MP Evangelos Meimarakis underlined the importance of the Greek people remaining united on Monday and called the PM to keep his promise of reaching an agreement with the creditors within 48 hours. Mr. Meimarakis added that the government will be responsible for the looming tragedy and stressed the need for an agreement.
The Minister of Interior Nikos Voutsis made an official announcement at 8pm, expressing his satisfaction with the referendum procedure. Mr. Voutsis praised the relevant ministerial services and the police for ensuring that there were no problems.
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP) as requested a summit, with the party’s Parliamentary Group VP of the Axel Schäfer commenting that the situation is too serious to be managed by Finance Ministers alone. A Euroworking Group teleconference has been arranged for Monday.
The Alternate Minister of International Economic Relations Euclid Tsakalotos told Star Channel that the government will negotiate an agreement that is financially sustainable. When asked how such an agreement will be reached within 48 hours when it has not been possible after 5 months of talks, he explained that there were two new things to take into consideration; firstly that the government has a fresh mandate and secondly that the IMF report indicates that the Greek public debt is not sustainable.
According to media reports, Dora Bakoyanni has asked that Antonis Samaras resigns from the Presidency of New Democracy. Mrs. Bakoyanni is said to have told him to resign and if need be, she will also “back down”. Mr. Samaras later in the evening announced his resignation.
Reuters has reported that the Eurozone officials are not planning any emergency meeting of Finance Ministers of Monday, as they do not know what to discuss, according to an unnamed official.
PASOK President Fofi Gennimata stated that the “people’s verdict is respected. The people wish to remain in Europe and want an agreement”, adding that the “the country must overcome the impasse, which is the government’s responsibility”. Mrs. Gennimata underlined that her party fought with the Greek people’s interest in mind and called the PM to carry out his promise for deal within 48 hours, as time is running out for Greece.
The Belgian Minister of Finances Johan Van Overtveldt commented that the outcome of the referendum will make the situation difficult, but added that the negotiations will continue. Mr. Van Overtveldt, who is one of the first Finance Ministers to comment on the referendum results, told the VRT network that the talks will focus on measures to put the Greek economy back on track and give the Greek people prospects for the future.
The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Paolo Gentiloni stated that the outcome of the referendum in Greece shows that the austerity measures requested by Europe have been rejected and as such, it is time to focus on an agreement with Greek authorities. He added that there is no way out of the Greek labyrinth with a weak Europe that does not develop.
The leader of Spain’s Podemos party, Pablo Iglesias, commented on his Twitter account that “democracy won in Greece”, in response to the outcome of the referendum.
The German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told Tagesspiegel that the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has burned his final bridges, while the chief of the German savings bank union (DSGV) told Reuters Greece has violated Eurozone regulations and such must be expelled immediately from the single currency.
Russia’s Deputy Minister of Economic Development Alexey Likhachev commented on the referendum result and that Greece took one step closer to leaving the Eurozone. Mr. Likhachev added that the Greek people rejected the creditor proposals for further austerity.
The Prime Minister of Estonia Taavi Roivas commented that the referendum result did not look good for the future of Greece, while the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgar Rinkevics stressed that the referendum results will have consequences for everyone.
The Slovak Minister of Finances Peter Kazimir expressed his ‘disappointment’ in the outcome of the referendum in Greece and explained that we must remain united in addressing this situation, as soon as possible. The German MEP Alexander Lambsdorff called Chancellor Merkel and the other European partners to initiate a Grexit.
German businesses consider a Grexit ‘inevitable’, with the president of the union of German exporters telling Reuters that a ‘Grexit’ cannot be avoided. Similarly, the chief of the German savings bank union interpreted the referendum result as a Greek rejection of fundamental rules of the Eurozone and as such, must be forced to leave the single currency zone.
