Greek court to rule whether bailout vote is unconstitutional

The Greek court will hear the appeal Friday.

(Image credit: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

last updated 3 July 2015

In a gambit to shake up the debt crisis talks last Saturday, Greek Prime Minister Alex Tsipras called for a national vote on July 5 to decide whether Greece should accept the terms of its creditors' bailout deal. The move appears to be backfiring.

The deal in question is off the table. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stopped negotiations until after the referendum. The polls are neck and neck. And a Greek court might decide that the whole thing is unconstitutional anyway.

On Friday, the 50-person court is slated to hear an appeal alleging that the vote violates Article 44 of the Greek constitution, which bars referendums on “the management of fiscal policy and issues that affect the financial situation of the state." The claimants also argue the question posed to voters is too confusing. The Greek government reportedly doesn't intend to offer a rebuttal in court.