Eurozone crisis: high-stakes gamble as David Cameron warns Greek voters

Guardian
May 20, 2012

A second Greek vote next month backing parties opposed to the European Union's bailout package would be a decisive vote to leave the euro for which contingency plans have to be made now, David Cameron warned on Sunday in a dramatic raising of the stakes.

Speaking in Chicago after two days of talks with world leaders on the euro crisis, he said: "We now have to send a very clear message to people in Greece: there is a choice – you can either vote to stay in the euro, with all the commitments you've made, or if you vote another way you're effectively voting to leave." His remarks are in effect an attempt to make next month's vote a referendum on continued membership of the euro.

Cameron indicated that he wanted to make the threat of ejection from the euro credible by showing the Greeks that preparations are being made for their departure, a change of tactics after weeks of mixed messages from the European commission on whether such plans are being laid.

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