This In Focus Note provides information on the 5 July 2015 Referendum in Greece on whether to accept the terms of a bailout package offered by its creditors.
Greek Referendum on EU, ECB and IMF Bailout Proposals, 5 July 2015 (86 KB , PDF)
On 5 July 2015, the Greek people voted in a referendum on whether to accept the terms of a bailout package offered by the European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)—the so-called ‘Troika’ of international lenders. The Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, leader of the left-wing Syriza party, campaigned for a ‘no’ vote, arguing that this would put the country on a better footing to negotiate more favourable terms with Greece’s creditors. The President of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, has said that a no vote could lead to Greece leaving the Eurozone. On a turnout of 62.5 percent, 61.3 percent voted to reject the proposed deal, while 38.7 percent voted in favour. A ‘no’ result was returned in each of Greece’s 56 electoral districts.
Greek Referendum on EU, ECB and IMF Bailout Proposals, 5 July 2015 (86 KB , PDF)
On 27 June 2022, the second reading and all remaining stages of the Social Security (Additional Payments) Bill are scheduled to take place in the House of Lords. The bill gives effect to the cost of living support measures for benefits claimants announced as part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s statement to the House of Commons on 26 May 2022.
In both 2020 and 2021, the Commonwealth postponed its 26th Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) set to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has since announced the meeting will take place between 20 and 25 June 2022. Some organisations have called on Commonwealth leaders to use CHOGM to press Rwanda to respect and promote human rights.
The UK’s union continues to evolve. Recent developments include the repatriation of powers from the EU post-Brexit and reviews of intergovernmental relations between central government and the devolved administrations, but there are also calls for further constitutional review and reform. The Scottish government’s plans for a second independence referendum and disagreements about the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol are particular issues that highlight current stresses on the union.
