Merkel says Germany won’t negotiate new deal with Greece before referendum

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday that Germany would not negotiate on a new bailout agreement for Greece before its referendum which is planned for Sunday.

“Before a referendum, as planned, is carried out, we won’t negotiate on anything new at all,” Merkel said.

She added that this applied regardless of whether new offers were made on Tuesday, suggesting it was now too late to vet them. Merkel placed the blame on the Greek government for allowing its bailout programme to expire tonight.

Furthermore a euro zone official claimed that there is “no way” euro zone finance ministers will release funds for Greece to meet a crucial payment to the International Monetary Fund due by midnight (2200 GMT) to avoid a default

Asked by Reuters whether ministers, due to hold an emergency conference call at 1700 GMT on Greece’s request for an extension to its international bailout might agree to release enough money to make the IMF payment, the official responded: “No way.”

Another person with knowledge of the matter also said there was no question of an immediate release of funds.

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