In an extensive retrospective in the summer of 2015 the Prokopis Pavlopouloson the occasion of the ten -year period from the referendum that set the country’s course.
Speaking on the show “In front of Annovi”, he described how he lived the dramatic hours that set Greece on the euro.
The former President of the Republic revealed that, Although it did not have a role in the negotiations, He played a catalytic role in maintaining the country’s stability and credibility. He remembered that the referendum fully surprised him: “I had been elected by a European majority. I didn’t expect it. I told Tsipras that I would not become the president of the drachma. “
At the same time, he referred to the dramatic hours before the end of the support program: “On the afternoon of June 26, when the program was over, we knew that without ELA the banks would be left without liquidity.”
Revealed that she contacted Merkel and Hollande, who were also taken aback, and said to Tsipras: “I can’t deny the referendum, I have no right, but the time was minimal and the questioning of the question is problematic.”
According to Pavlopoulos, Tsipras replied that the question would concern the approval of the proposal he had rejected. “I told him that if the referendum was about staying or leaving the euro, I would resign the next time. We agreed that the result, if negative, would be used for negotiation and not as an exit step. ” The signature of the Presidential Decree followed.
The former president also reported to Jean -Claude Juncker, who sent him a new proposal on Sunday night, which he forwarded to Tsipras. “He told me ‘I find it interesting.’ There were two discussions, but eventually collapsed and we were led to capital controls, “he said.
The unexpected intervention of Lafazan
Pavlopoulos also described the moment, two hours after the start of the Council of Political Leaders, Panagiotis Lafazanis asked to see Tsipras.
“The door opened and I was told that Lafazanis came. Their meeting lasted time. As I learned, he told him that with this approach the “no” would become “yes” and reported to him That Russia had a proposal to help us financially, and even print our own currency to leave the euro, “he revealed.
Then, according to Pavlopoulos, Tsipras phoned Putin from the office of the Secretary General of the Presidency. “Putin said complete ignorance. As Hollande told a few days later, he knew nothing and advised to stay in Europe. “
Asked about the minutes of that meeting, Pavlopoulos confirmed that they were held and that those who asked for their publication received an institutional response from the President of the Republic and the Speaker of the House.
The critical phone call with the ECB
Speaking of the dramatic meeting in Parliament, When Tsipras returned from Brussels, Pavlopoulos remembered a phone call from the ECB.
“Stournaras took me and told me that the bankers were worried about seeing the split of SYRIZA. I told them that I personally guarantee that the votes would be over 210. They put me in open hearing to hear the bankers. “
Tsipras and Karamanlis placements
Alexis Tsipras, then commenting on the role of Pavlopoulos, said: “It was a one -way choice and I never regretted it. He was an excellent president, patriot, with endless creativity. Every time the phone rings after 12pm, we knew it was the president. “
Prokopis Pavlopoulos said, finally, Angela Merkel was behind the IMF’s participation in the first memorandum. “Half the truth is that Schoeble wanted a European solution. Merkel, however, feared the mercy of Europeans and loaded the IMF, “he said.
Kostas Karamanlis, for his part, noted that Pavlopoulos “experienced critical times for the nation, showed a highest sense of responsibility and contributed decisively to maintaining political normalcy and European orientation of the country.”