French PM: Real risk of Grexit if Greeks vote no in referendum


There is a "real risk" of Greece leaving the eurozone if the Greek people vote against the EU's bailout proposals in a referendum, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said yesterday. However, Valls urged the Greek authorities to "come back to the negotiating table" after Athens broke off deadlocked talks on trying to rescue Greece's debt-stricken economy. Valls refused to attack the decision of the Greek government to call a referendum, saying: "When you ask the people to decide, to exercise their democratic right, this should not be criticized. It is obvious that if there is a negative response, there is a real risk ... of leaving the eurozone," Valls told rolling news channel iTELE. "I continue to believe ... that a deal is still possible and I invite the Greek government to return to the negotiating table," the prime minister added.