AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Netherlands’ Labor party says that a Greek decision to hold a referendum would be a “deal-breaker” for last week’s accord to resolve the European financial crisis.
The conservative Dutch government needs Labor’s support to achieve a majority in parliament in support of the deal, meaning Labor could effectively veto it.
“It’s a deal-breaker,” said party financial spokesman Ronald Plasterk of Greek Prime Minister’ George Papandreou’s shock decision to call a referendum on the deal.
“It can’t be so that 17 countries sit down together to talk about a package to save the Greek economy and that we then have to wait until January to open an email to see if Greece wants it.”
The Dutch parliament is debating the EU agreement Tuesday.
