“I applaud the people of Greece for saying ‘no’ to more austerity for the poor, the children, the sick, and the elderly,” Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders declared Sunday after Greek voters rejected International Monetary Fund demands that they accept more austerity.

The Greek people, by a margin of over 60 percent, rejected the IMF’s austerity demands. The overwhelming ‘no’ vote strengthens the hand of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsirpas in his battle with European leaders and finance capitalists over their demands that he says would bring the Greek people to their knees.

Sanders, who made the statements applauding the vote in Greece on his website, called on the people of Europe to support the Greek people.

“In a world of massive wealth and income inequality, Europe must support Greece’s efforts to build an economy that creates jobs and income, not more unemployment and suffering,” Sanders declared.

Sanders told the Huffington Post earlier in the week that “it is unacceptable that the International Monetary Fund and European politicians have refused to talk with Greece on a sensible plan to improve its economy and pay back its debt.”

Photo: AP