Slovenia describes possible Greek referendum on EU bailout "risky"

Slovenia mass media voiced on Thursday its doubt about the consequences of Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou's announcement to call a referendum over the European Union's bailout package. The surprising announcement by Papandreou has left bystanders wondering about his true motives. "No one can predict the outcome of the move, which adds a political gamble atop a financial gamble," the influential daily Delo commented. "Considering Greece's situation, the direct vote of the people is being widely perceived as dangerous," the newspaper said. Local daily Dnevnik also agrees with the prevailing opinion that Papandreou's decision to call a referendum on the EU's bailout package is "a huge political gamble." "Papandreu has taken his gloves off and is returning the EU from technocratic management back to realpolitik," Dnevnik said. Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor said on Wednesday that Greece's referendum on the eurozone bailout package would increase the uncertainty surrounding the efforts to resolve the sovereign debt crisis. It will "certainly not contribute to boosting the trust of financial markets in the plans to solve the financial and institutional crisis in the EU and eurozone," Pahor said. EU leaders agreed in Brussels last week for a 50 percent "haircut" on the Greek state debt and additional multi-billion-euro bailout loans to avert a Greek default that could undermine stability in the eurozone. In response, Papandreou announced surprisingly on Monday his plan to hold a referendum on the fresh EU aid package for the debt-laden country.