Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras surprised creditors by announcing a referendum on austerity cuts in the aid package. On Sunday, he went on television to declare capital controls to prevent bank collapse, marking a tumultuous weekend for Greece. This has pushed the country closer to defaulting on IMF loans and potentially exiting the euro currency bloc. French President Francois Hollande urged Tsipras to resume negotiations, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed willingness to speak with him. Time is running out for a resolution as Greece's bailout programme is set to expire soon. Greeks, who are accustomed to long negotiations with creditors that lead to last-minute agreements, were shocked by the situation. An Athens resident named Evgenia Gekou, 50, expressed disbelief on her way to work, hoping that everything would be resolved by the next day. European officials gave mixed messages about their future actions. A representative from the European Commission stated on French radio that Brussels would not be presenting any new proposals on Monday, contradicting EU Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici's earlier remarks. Moscovici had mentioned that a new offer was on the way and that an agreement was close. European bank stocks experienced a significant drop on Monday, with major banks in Spain, France, and Germany falling by over 6 percent due to concerns about the potential impact on banks in other peripheral euro zone countries. The Greek government has decided to keep banks closed at least until after July 5, the day of the referendum, and when they reopened, withdrawals from ATMs were limited to 60 euros per day. The stock exchange will remain closed, and Greece's European partners are frustrated with Tsipras for the crisis. Creditors are pushing for pension cuts and tax increases, which Tsipras believes will worsen the economic crisis in a country with high unemployment. Emergency measures were announced by Tsipras on Sunday, leading to long queues at ATMs and petrol stations as people rushed to withdraw cash. On Monday, lines formed at ATMs with over a dozen people waiting. Plumber Yannis Kalaizakis, 58, expressed his frustration about the long queues at cash machines in his neighborhood by stating that he had five euros in his pocket and was hoping to try his luck for more money. He was seen outside an empty cash machine in central Athens on Monday, lamenting the situation and describing it as a mess. Newspapers featured images of the long lines at cash machines on their front pages. The Nafetemporiki daily's headline on Monday was "Dramatic hours," while Ta Nea daily simply asked, "When will the banks open?" Eleftheros Typos, a conservative-leaning newspaper, accused Tsipras of using the referendum as a tactic to force early elections in hopes of winning. The editorial stated that Tsipras' decision to call for a referendum and a potential euro exit was a calculated crime, indicating a loss of trust from citizens, as seen through the long lines at ATMs and petrol stations, which will likely reflect in the upcoming ballot on Sunday. Rumors spread quickly, leading many elderly individuals to line up outside two branches of the National Bank of Greece in hopes of withdrawing their pensions on Monday. However, they were ultimately turned away, according to Reuters photographers. One shop owner expressed disappointment, stating that he had worked hard his whole life only to be faced with such a crisis. Despite the financial turmoil, some aspects of daily life continued as usual, with businesses operating and people gathering at cafes and restaurants to talk about the future of their country. Tourists also gathered to watch the changing of the guard outside parliament. A demonstration organized by Tsipras's Syriza party to protest against austerity measures and encourage voters to vote "No" in the upcoming referendum on bailout terms is scheduled for later today. Officials across Europe and the United States have been busy making calls and arranging meetings in a frantic effort to find a solution. U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Merkel, and senior U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, who talked to Tsipras, have been pushing for Europe and the IMF to develop a plan to maintain the euro currency and keep Greece in the euro zone. George Katrougalos, the Administrative Reforms Minister, expressed his frustration with the lack of liquidity being provided for Greek banks, accusing it of being a form of blackmail and intimidation. He also warned that a "yes" vote would lead to cuts in pensions and increased costs for healthcare in public hospitals. When your children are unable to attend school, you will express gratitude, but they may respond by saying that you requested this outcome. However, if you refuse, you have the power to advocate for a brighter tomorrow.