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Campaigns halt as Greeks face tough referendum choice

A demonstrator rises his hand reading the word ''No'' as a Greek flag waves during a rally organized by supporters of the No vote in Athens, Friday, July 3, 2015. A new opinion poll shows a dead heat in Greece's referendum campaign with just two days to go before Sunday's vote on whether Greeks should accept more austerity in return for bailout loans. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A demonstrator rises his hand reading the word ''No'' as a Greek flag waves during a rally organized by supporters of the No vote in Athens, Friday, July 3, 2015. A new opinion poll shows a dead heat in Greece's referendum campaign with just two days to go before Sunday's vote on whether Greeks should accept more austerity in return for bailout loans. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) A demonstrator rises his hand reading the word ''No'' as a Greek flag waves during a rally organized by supporters of the No vote in Athens, Friday, July 3, 2015. A new opinion poll shows a dead heat in Greece's referendum campaign with just two days to go before Sunday's vote on whether Greeks should accept more austerity in return for bailout loans. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

By Associated Press 5 min read

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Campaigns halt in Greece on Saturday on the eve of a closely watched bailout referendum – with voters in a dead heat over whether to defy creditors and push for better repayment terms or essentially seek new political leadership to find a compromise.

Political rallies and publication of new opinion polls are banned 24 hours before Sunday’s referendum called by left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who has promised to ease austerity after six years of recession.

Rival rallies took place a half-mile apart in central Athens late Friday, and Tsipras made his final pitch on a stage set up for a campaign rock concert outside parliament.

“This is not a protest. It is a celebration to overcome fear and blackmail,” he told a crowd of 30,000 as they roared oxi, oxi- “no, no.”

The 40-year-old Tsipras is gambling the future of his new left wing government on Sunday’s snap poll – insisting a “no” vote will strengthen his hand to negotiate a third bailout with better terms.