Spain Podemos deputy brands Greece deal a ‘coup’
A regional deputy of Spanish anti-austerity party Podemos on Monday branded Greeces deal with eurozone creditors a "financial coup d'Etat" against Athens and the governing SYRIZA party, allies of Podemos.
"What they are trying to do in Greece is launch a financial coup d'Etat and convert it into a protectorate," said Pablo Echenique, a former member of the European Parliament and now a regional deputy.
Speaking in a television interview, he was the first prominent member of Podemos to react publicly to the deal announced in Brussels, which obliges Greece to make tough cash-saving reforms.
Podemos is a high-profile ally of SYRIZA, sharing its stance un opposing the financial cuts imposed in the financial crisis under pressure from European authorities.
Podemos's leader Pablo Iglesias voiced support for Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during the tense talks in Brussels ahead of Monday's deal.
Podemos has surged in popularity and ranks as the third biggest party in Spain ahead of a general election due around the end of the year.
[AFP]
