Speaking to the Observer, Aristides Hatzis, a prominent professor of economics and law at Athens University, likened the decision to “the government acting like a suicide bomber”.
“It is a very risky decision that could jeopardise Greece’s position not only in the eurozone but the EU,” he said. “I thought Tsipras would be pragmatic and accept a deal that would ultimately have allowed him to consolidate his position on the moderate left. Instead, with this decision he has allowed his ideologue, Bolshevik side to take over. It is as if he wants to transform this country into Venezuela, but the problem is it would become a Venezuela without the oil.”