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Greek government reveals referendum question...and it's long and vague

Greece's government have put the country's future in its people's hands. But understanding the question could require a degree in economics

Jessica Ware
Tuesday 30 June 2015 03:57 EDT
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Greece will be heading to the polls on July 5 for a referendum which could determine its future in the Eurozone
Greece will be heading to the polls on July 5 for a referendum which could determine its future in the Eurozone (EPA)

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The Greek government has announced the question its citizens will be answering in the upcoming referendum. But the ballot paper, which isn’t exactly crystal clear, has sparked some head-scratching.

Translated, it reads: “Should the proposal which was submitted by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund at the Eurogroup of June 25, 2015 which consists of two parts that together consist of their comprehensive proposal be accepted?

Voters need to decide whether they want to yes: accept the proposal or no: reject the proposal. It’s a “simple question” says Reuters.

Though, with a title like: "Reforms for the completion of the Current Program and Beyond", and "Preliminary Debt sustainability analysis", the government might have run out of room on the ballot paper to include the proposed plan’s name.

Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced that the decision to approve the programme and default on 1.6 billion euros owed to the IMF would be put in the hands of the people. They’ll be voting on July 5, which fortunately gives a bit of time to unpick what exactly they’re being asked to decide.

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