Welcoming the news that German President Joachim Gauck had agreed to delay ratification of the permanent euro bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism, as well as the fiscal pact, both of which were due to enter into force on 1 July next, GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer said that this was an "excellent opportunity" to call for a referendum on both instruments.

"Ireland is the only country to date to hold a referendum on these issues, which will have serious repercussions on the lives of working people in the eurozone countries in years to come. I urge the German authorities to explain just exactly what is at stake when these mechanisms are introduced and to give German people an opportunity to express their views," said Ms Zimmer.

The German constitutional court advised the German President to postpone signing the legislation as it would take some weeks to consider a likely legal challenge by Die Linke in Karlsruhe on the introduction of the legislation as well as a wave of further

lawsuits questioning the constitutionality of the pact.

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20   

David Lundy +32 485 50 58 12

gabrielle.kavanagh@europarl.europa.eu  

david.lundy@europarl.europa.eu

European United Left / Nordic Green Left

European Parliamentary Group

www.guengl.eu