Greece rejects media reports over referendum on euro

The Greek government strongly dismissed on Tuesday media reports over a planned referendum on whether Greece should leave the eurozone to tackle a severe debt crisis. "There is no such an issue," Greek government spokesman Elias Mossialos commented in local media, noting that the socialist administration does promote a draft bill on holding referenda in Greece, but there is no discussion regarding a possible withdrawal of the country from the European common currency zone. A Greek daily, citing unidentified sources, reported earlier "As pressure from Greece's foreign creditors and austerity-weary citizens mounts on the government, Prime Minister George Papandreou is considering calling for a referendum on whether Greece should continue to tackle its debt crisis within the eurozone or by exiting the single currency." According to the report, some of the prime minister's aides raised the idea this summer, along suggestions for snap general elections to secure a fresh mandate to implement an austerity and reform program to exit the crisis. Papandreou himself has repeatedly and categorically rejected early polls over the past few months. He strongly supports instead a political reform drive that includes referenda on various issues. A parliamentary discussion on the relevant draft bill is expected in the next few days.