Greeks weigh austerity, tie to Europe as vote nears

ATHENS, Greece – Costas Christoforidis hasn’t decided how to vote in Sunday’s referendum on a bailout deal for Greece’s troubled economy. The problem is, the 37-year-old farmer isn’t sure what he’s voting for.

“If it’s saying ‘No’ to austerity, then it’s a ‘No’ from me too. But if we are rejecting Europe, I disagree with that,” he said – a position that many of Greece’s perplexed public find themselves in ahead of one of the most important votes in their country’s modern history.

As Greek banks and markets remained closed today for a fourth day, rival campaigns scrambled to roll out their messages.

“Our efforts are focused on overcoming the crisis as fast as possible – with a solution that preserves the dignity and sovereignty of our people,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said.

The popular 40-year-old prime minister is gambling his government on a call to voters to reject austerity measures demanded by bailout lenders.

A strong “No” vote, he argued, would help Greece win a deal with the eurozone’s rescue mechanism that would include terms to make the country’s 320 billion euro national debt sustainable.

Opponents say he is risking the country’s future – asking voters to weigh in on a bailout offer that expired midnight Tuesday.

“They are making a serious mistake. Because the world will consider a ‘No’ vote to be a withdrawal from the heart of Europe – the first step toward euro exit,” said former conservative prime minister Costas Karamanlis, making his first public speech in six years.

Tsipras’ argument was also dismissed by the head of the eurozone finance ministers’ group, Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem.

“That suggestion is simply wrong,” Dijsselbloem told lawmakers in the Netherlands.

European officials and the Greek opposition have warned a “No” outcome could be tantamount to a decision to leave the euro.

“The consequences are not the same if it’s a ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’ ” said French President Francois Hollande. “If it’s the ‘Yes,’ even if it’s on the basis of proposals that have already expired, negotiations can resume and I imagine be quickly concluded … It’s up to the Greeks to respond.”

And in one of the clearest signs yet that the future of the government is on the line in Sunday’s vote, the country’s outspoken finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, told Australia’s ABC radio he was likely to resign if a “Yes” vote prevails.

Tsipras signaled the same this week, declaring on state TV that he was not an “all-weather” prime minister.

Tension surrounding the vote has remained high since banks closed and were forced to impose cash withdrawal limits.

On Thursday, elderly Greeks, some struggling with walking sticks, formed large crowds outside the few banks open to help pensioners without ATM cards get access to money.

Elsewhere in Athens, campaigners battled for visibility as time to reach voters was running out. Rival campaign rallies were scheduled for the same time tonight in the heart of the city.