European leaders warned Greeks that Sunday’s vote on the country’s international bailout was a referendum on its membership of the eurozone, insisting rejection would bring no better offer and could have disastrous economic consequences.
The warning came as Greece edged closer to default with a Greek official conceding that the country will not make a €1.6bn payment to the International Monetary Fund due by midnight.
Missing the payment will put Greece in a category with Zimbabwe, Sudan and Cuba — though credit rating agencies and eurozone officials insist the move will not affect Athens’ other loans. Far more consequential is a €3.5bn payment that Athens must make to the European Central Bank next month.