Juncker ‘feels betrayed’ • accuses Greek government of ‘egotism, tactical games’

Feeling “betrayed” by the Greek government, European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker addressed a press conference in Brussels during which he made his pitch for a yes vote in next Saturday’s Greek referendum on the bailout programme.

He delivered a harsh statement, accusing Athens of "egotism" and "tactical games".

“I am particularly sad by what Europe witnessed last Saturday. In one night, Europe suffered a major blow and good will was thrown out of the window. Egotism, tactical games and populist talk took precedence over other aspects. After all my efforts, after all the efforts of the institutions, I feel a little betrayed because no due consideration was given to the personal efforts,” an irked Juncker said.

Talks between Greece and its creditors were abruptly suspended when Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called a surprise referendum.

Juncker told a press briefing that, after endless months of discussions and disagreements, the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund were “once again determined and patient to working together round the table to achieve the best possible agreement”

“[But] efforts were broken off unilaterally by a referendum and a campaigning to say no to this agreement without really the whole truth being spoken. They want democracy against 18 others, and this is not an attitude worthy of the great Greek nation and it doesn’t help the Greek citizens.”

The President reiterated that in Europe “no democracy is worth more than the other”. “This is not a game of bluff. There are no winners and losers. We’re either all winners or losers”.

In an appeal to the Greek citizens, Juncker said they must have a “clear picture of what’s at stake”.

 “We’ve done everything we could and we don’t deserve the criticism being leveled at us. No efforts were spared to reach an agreement,” he said.

Alexis Tsipras has accused the EU of pressure, blackmail and ultimatums. In what has been called as “a landmark speech”, Tispras announced that a referendum would be held on the Troika bailout deal.

“Fellow Greeks, to the blackmailing of the ultimatum that asks us to accept a severe and degrading austerity without end and without any prospect for a social and economic recovery, I ask you to respond in a sovereign and proud way, as the history of the Greek people commands,” Tsipras said. “To authoritarianism and harsh austerity, we will respond with democracy, calmly and decisively; Greece, the birthplace of democracy will send a resounding democratic response to Europe and the world.”

Juncker, who said that the European Union was “not a theatre of conflict between national interests”, urged the Greeks to vote yes, independently of the question that would be put forward.

“I ask the Greek people to say yes because a yes vote will be a positive signal for Greece. If the Greek people are fully aware of their national and European role, if they vote yes, they will send a message to all that Greece wants to stay in the Euro area and in the European Unions.

“You shouldn’t commit suicide because you are afraid of dying […] Greece is Europe and Europe is Greece.”

In a jibe at Tsipras, who accused Europe of being undemocratic, Juncker told reporters that he would take two questions before heading to the European Parliament, “because we live in a full democracy”.

According to international media, Tsipras has told Juncker that preventing the Greek people's democratic expression by shutting down the banks is not within Europe's democratic tradition.

“He asked for Juncker to help ensure the Greek bailout can be extended by a few days and liquidity restored to the banks. Tsipras told Juncker that as a European politician, he must defend the traditions of Europe, so that the Greek people can decide unhindered on Sunday,” an unnamed Greek official was quoted as saying.

Tsipras has also asked European Parliament President Martin Schulz to support the Greek proposal for a bailout extension of a few days.

French President Francois Hollande appealed to Tsipras to return to the negotiating table and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was willing to talk to the 40-year-old Greek leader if he wanted.

"There are a few hours before the negotiation is closed for good," Hollande said after a cabinet meeting on Greece.

Taking to Twitter, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said that the Greek referendum "won't be a derby EU Commission vs Tsipras, but euro vs dracma. That is the choice".

The point is: greek referendum won’t be a derby EU Commission vs Tsipras, but euro vs dracma. This is the choice.

— Matteo Renzi (@matteorenzi) June 29, 2015

But with Greece's bailout program expiring in less than 48 hours, hopes of a last-minute breakthrough were fading fast. Greeks - used to lengthy talks with creditors before an eleventh-hour deal materializes - were left stunned, Reuters report.

It added that Greece was struggling to adjust to shuttered banks and closed cash machines as a breakdown in talks between Greece and its creditors plunged the country deep into crisis.