Greece and Merkel at Odds on Push for Euro Vote

New York Times
May 17, 2012

The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, suggested Friday that Greece hold a referendum on remaining in the euro zone during a telephone call with the Greek president, Karolos Papoulias, a government spokesman in Athens said, but a spokesman for the chancellor denied she had made the suggestion.

The spokesman, Dimitris Tsiodras, said Ms. Merkel made the suggestion that a referendum be held in parallel with general elections scheduled for June 17 as a means to gauge the extent to which Greeks want to remain in the euro zone. The spokesman added, however, that holding such a referendum did not fall within the remit of Greece’s caretaker government.

A spokeswoman for Ms. Merkel’s office denied the chancellor had suggested a referendum. Earlier in the day, a spokesman for the chancellor, Georg Streiter, confirmed the conversation with the Greek president. According to Mr. Streiter, she had reiterated to Mr. Papoulias, that “it is the wish of Germany and all European partners that a capable government be built as quickly as possible after these elections.”

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