Leftist US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders applauds Greek austerity 'No' vote

WASHINGTON: US Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist and 2016 candidate for president, has applauded Greece's rejection of a bailout referendum at the height of the country's standoff with European Union creditors.

"I applaud the people of Greece for saying 'No' to more austerity for the poor, the children, the sick and the elderly," Sanders said in a statement late Sunday.

"In a world of massive wealth and income inequality, Europe must support Greece's efforts to build an economy which creates more jobs and income, not more unemployment and suffering."

Sanders is a political independent, although he caucuses with Democrats in the Senate and is seeking the Democratic nomination, challenging frontrunner Hillary Clinton and a handful of other Democrats.

A distant second to Clinton in the Democratic primary race, Sanders is a frequent critic of Wall Street and big banks.

He has made the need to reduce America's income inequality a main plank of his campaign, and has praised Europe's socialist-leaning economic model, including paid maternity leave and sick leave for most employees.

The statement stood out as the apparent first reaction from the broad field of US presidential candidates to the crisis vote in Greece.

US lawmakers have also largely remained silent. They are on a one-week recess that ends with Congress returning to full session Tuesday.

Neither the White House nor the US Treasury had reacted as of noon (1600 GMT) Monday.

The International Monetary Fund estimates the country needs 50 billion euros ($55 billion) over the next three years, including 36 billion euros ($40 billion) more from EU lenders, and debt relief to stabilize its finances.