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Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appeared confident on Sunday upon his arrival to the critical eurozone summit in Brussels, saying that an "honest compromise" with lenders could be reached Sunday night and Grexit scenarios would be put aside.
"I am here, ready for an honest compromise. We owe it to the people of Europe that want to be united and not divided. We can reach an agreement today if all sides want it," the Leftist leader said in remarks broadcast by Greek media.
At the same time, European leaders sent mixed signals, fueling Greek citizens' anxiety over the outcome.
Sunday's eurozone summit could determine whether Greece will secure a third bailout program on tough terms for the next three years to remain afloat and in the European common currency zone or face imminent default and Grexit.
After six months of inconclusive negotiations for a reforms-for-cash agreement, Grexit is no longer a taboo word.
Two Eurogroup meetings on Saturday and earlier on Sunday ended with no finalized plan and the final decisions were left to be made by leaders of 19 eurozone member states.
French President Francois Hollande stated on Sunday that there is no temporary Grexit plan and European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker said that a solution will be achieved "even if we have to fight for it."
However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that a deal on the Greek debt crisis will not come "at any price."
According to media reports in Saturday's talks in Brussels, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble suggested a temporary "five-year Grexit", while the Finnish and Slovakia also expressed strong doubts whether Greece will implement the pledged reforms.
Against this backdrop, ordinary Greeks in Athens were anxious on Sunday over the result.
"People are tired of this psychological roller coaster. Once we are a breath away from signing and the next hour a step from chaos. I hope they will reach a decision tonight so that we can move on with our lives -- with or without euro," George Thanou, a waiter in a central Athens restaurant, told Xinhua.
"I am more anxious than ever. This thriller dragged on for too long. Our lives have stalled this month. I hope they will make the best decision for Greece and Europe today. Undoubtedly, a bankruptcy and Grexit will push Greece back decades," client Argyro Stavropoulou added.
Commentators and political analysts commented that even in the best case the troubles do not end for Greeks today. The capital controls imposed on June 29 when the banks closed are expected to last for at least two more months, Economy Minister George Stathakis had told television channel MEGA.
Political developments -- ranging from a cabinet reshuffle to the formation of a new national unity government or snap general elections -- seem to be also on the table after Saturday's vote in the Greek assembly, as creditors push Athens for urgent actions and the approval of draft bills on key reforms this week.
In the early hours of Saturday, Greek lawmakers authorized Tsipras for the final negotiations with 251 votes in the 300- member strong plenum. The premier won the support of opposition pro euro parties who prefer even a harsh agreement rather than Grexit, but lost three dozen members of parliament (MPs) of his Radical Left SYRIZA party who abstained, voted no or warned that they will reject an unviable deal when it will be put for vote in the assembly in coming days. Among the "rebels" were two ministers, a deputy minister and the Speaker of parliament.
"Resignations and a cabinet reshuffle are the way forward," Stathakis said. Enditem
