Thousands attend Greek solidarity protest in Dublin as Greece prepares for polls
Thousands of people attended an Irish protest in solidarity with the Greeks calling for a no vote in the referendum.
Demonstrators in Dublin marched from the Central Bank to the Dáil in what they call ' a common battle against austerity in both countries'.
People Before Profit TD Joan Collins has said that Greece needs a write down of at least some of its €1.5bn worth of debt.
#OXI March from DUBLIN TO GREECE NO JUSTICE NO PEACE #irishwater #IMF OUT pic.twitter.com/J5NOseteHQ
— @FINGALOLS (@FINGALOLS) July 4, 2015
"If the Syriza government were to succeed in getting a debt write-down that will be huge egg-in-the-face for the governments of Europe," said Deputy Collins.
"They want to strangle the Syriza movement, and they want to replace them with technocrats, the same people who brought the country to its knees. So I think and I hope that the people of Greece send out a clear message on Sunday. No matter what decision they make it's going to be difficult. They are facing a very difficult period," she said.
Co-ordinator for the Greek Solidarity Committee Ronan Burtenshaw said that a dance was planned before the march involving members of the Greek community, along with numerous speeches from people including Trevor Hogan, the former Ireland rugby international, in addition to politicians, trade unionists and community activists.
Placard that speaks a thousand words. From today's solidarity march with Greece in Dublin. #IrelandstandswithGreece pic.twitter.com/Tm0AVEfgFX
— Dougal (@DougalCmk) July 4, 2015
Greece is preparing to go to the polls tomorrow to decide whether it will accept bailout terms based on an agreement imposed by the troika.
Although Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says he wants Greece to stay in the euro, many eurozone countries believe it will not be possible to do so without an agreed deadline for debt repayment and economic reforms.
Marching to EU in Dublin. #IrelandstandswithGreece #Greece #Greferendim pic.twitter.com/NB0uzySpLv
— Helena Sheehan (@HelenaSheehan) July 4, 2015
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble also suggested in an interview with a German newspaper that Greece could exit the eurozone temporarily.
Many Greeks want to leave the euro and like the government are urging people to vote no.
The Greek Finance Minister has denied reports that the country's banks are preparing plans to seize 30% of customers' savings, as part of a restructuring of the banking sector.
Yanis Varoufakis described the report in The Financial Times as a "malicious rumour".
The paper says the plan would apply to deposits above €8,000, and would take place if Greece agrees another bailout programme.
Meanwhile, Mr Varoufakis has accused the country's international creditors of "terrorism" against Greece.
His comments come as the polls show that Greek voters remain evenly split on tomorrow's bailout referendum.
Thousands turned out for rival rallies last night in the capital.
An Athens taxi driver is one of those voting No, he claims that austerity measures have been so harsh that many Greeks feel that they have nothing else to loose, and therefore leaving the euro holds more promise for many than facing more EU sanctioned austerity measures.
"People have paid a lot for austerity measures over the past five years, they don't understand what's going to happen, so they want to punish the political system," he said.
"That's why I'm voting no. Because people have suffered a lot over the past five years, and many people feel they have nothing to lose, so lets go back to the drachma."
