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Despite the optimistic expectations of the Greek cabinet that positive assessments of the progress of negotiations with the creditors would be heard at today's meeting of the Eurogroup, an increasing number of ministers and representatives of SYRIZA state that it is likely that a referendum be held.

Some of them even indicate specific dates, the most probable of which being 7 June. It is suitable as it meets the constitutional one-month period for calling a referendum on critical national issues by the President after a decision of parliament.

In addition, 7 June is a Sunday. The constitution further provides that the voting starts at 07:00 am and ends at 07:00 pm.

At the same time, according to the results of a poll conducted by MRB polling agency on behalf of the newspaper Real news, 58.8% of Greeks believe that if the government failed to conclude a fair agreement with the creditors, the parliament should ratify it, 28.8% support a referendum and 5.8% want early elections. However, if the agreement provides for the application of all measures that the creditors require, 42.6% of Greeks want a referendum, 37% want parliament to ratify it and 11.3% want early elections.

So far, however, neither the Prime Minister nor any member of the cabinet has specified the question that a possible referendum could raise among Greek citizens. Whether it will be the dilemma of choosing between the euro and the drachma or a question such as, "Our partners require more austerity. Do you agree?", Greeks will have to answer "yes" or "no" in both cases.

The Greek media report that yesterday's meeting of the government council decided that if the evaluation of the Eurogroup were not positive and the European Central Bank did not restore the allocation of liquidity because of it, Athens would not pay the loan amounting to about 780 million euro to the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday.

"We want to emphasize the significant progress in negotiations achieved so far. But in all cases, the achievement of any agreement must meet the will of the people who have elected us," were the exact words of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, addressed to both the creditors and those inside SYRIZA.

Some government officials even believe that Athens should not repay the loan anyway and thus show its difficult position.

In this situation, the proposal to hold a referendum if the government fails to reach an agreement with the creditors has again come to the fore, dividing both the government and SYRIZA.

State Minister and adviser to the Prime Minister Alekos Flambouraris, Minister of Energy Panagiotis Lafazanis, Minister of Social Security Panos Skourletis, deputy chairman of parliament Alexis Mitropoulos and SYRIZA parliamentary representative Nikos Phyllis support the referendum.

Vice Minister of Economy George Stathakis, Minister of Health Panagiotis Kouroublis, Minister of Defence Panos Kammenos and MP Dimitris Papadimoulis however oppose it.