Greeks narrowly reject European credit deal, polls show

Two opinion polls released after a Sunday referendum in Greece on whether to accept tough bailout conditions suggested a “No” vote had narrowly won, potentially jeopardizing the country’s membership in the eurozone.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called Sunday’s referendum last weekend, urging voters to reject creditor reform proposals. Opposition parties and many European officials have warned that a “no” vote, however, could endanger Greece’s position in Europe’s joint currency, the euro.

A poll by the Star television channel gave a 49-54 percent range for ‘No’ ballots against 46-51 percent for “Yes,” while the Mega channel poll suggested a 49.5-53.5 percent ‘No’ vote and 46.5-50.5 percent for ‘Yes.”

The radical left government of Tsipras had lobbied for a “No” result in the referendum in a bid to strengthen its hand in negotiations with international creditors.

The governing left-wing Syriza party’s European member of parliament said that “Greek people are proving they want to remain in Europe” as equal members “and not as a debt colony.”

Dimitris Papadimoulis said that the country should wait for the official and final results of Sunday’s referendum, and called on his fellow countrymen to remain calm. Three opinion polls conducted during the voting indicate a tight race with a likely win by the “no” vote.

“A new effort is beginning,” he said, adding that Tsipras would move fast to conclude a deal with Greece’s creditors.