Majority of Greek voters says NO to austerity measures

BRUSSELS, July 5 (KUNA) -- With 50 percent of the results announced tonight by the Greek interior ministry, 61.2 percent said NO and 38.8 percent YES to the austerity measures in Sunday's referendum.
Analysts in Athens are speaking of "big political triumph" for Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras who had urged the Greeks to vote NO, media reports showed in Brussels.
They point out that despite the fact that banks are closed in Greece since a week and there are capital controls in the country, a vast majority of the voters supported Tsipras' position and rejected calls by EU leaders to vote YES.
His hands will be now stronger in negotiations with the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the major creditors.
In a first reaction, leader of the group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Gianni Pittella, said "the people have decided. We respect the will of the Greek people and take note of the clear outcome of the referendum.
"Therefore, as of tomorrow let's re-open the negotiations inspired by a new attitude of solidarity and cooperation" he added. (pickup previous) nk.bs