Greece crisis: Europe on edge over snap election

TomandJerry said:

Greeks vote on Sundayin an election whose ramifications will be felt far beyond the borders of their country, quite a few in Kolonaki will not be supporting the conservative New Democracy party. Throwing traditional preferences to the winds, they will be voting for Syriza, the radical left anti-austerity party on course for victory and taking Europe by storm.

All over Greece, in middle-class enclaves eviscerated by the effects of austerity, others will be doing the same. “The bourgeoisie is going to play a major role in securing Syriza’s forthcoming victory,” says political scientist Dimitris Keridis, adding that wealthy friends, frustrated by exorbitant property taxes, have joined the band of turncoats. The exodus will be a repeat of the desertion the conservatives suffered when one in 10 voters migrated to the left in last May’s Euro-elections.

After five years of being subjected to the economic brutalities of neoliberal orthodoxy – the price of the greatest bailout in global financial history – Greeks are not the people they once were. Change is everywhere: in politics, financial affairs, the social fabric and states of mind. This election will be the biggest shift of all: a historic turning point in a country that, on the frontline of the euro crisis, has defiantly challenged the prevailing narrative from Brussels and Berlin.

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pastafarian said:

The Greeks are a bunch of work shy twats,i hope they vote these left wing anti austerity loonies in,they will be bankrupt in a couple of years and probably cripple the EU. Meanwhile we can mop up their assets when they havnt got a pot to puss in.My bid at £3.50 for Corfu is a winner.

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TomandJerry said:

The Greeks are a bunch of work shy twats...

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Guerrero said:

Let's hope the UK does the same and votes against the Draconian austerity measures imposed by Dave on all but his filthy rich mates.

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Guerrero said:

Let's hope the UK does the same and votes against the Draconian austerity measures imposed by Dave on all but his filthy rich mates.

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Westdene Seagull said:

And now confirmed that an anti-austerity coalition has been formed. Will the EU and Germany finally get the bloody nose they deserve ?

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jakarta said:

Given previous form no doubt the EU will make the Greeks vote again until they come up with the right answer......

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Westdene Seagull said:

And the ironic thing about your post ..... before votes were cast the voters were warned by EU officials that they 'shouldn't vote the wrong way' !!!

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Westdene Seagull said:

And the ironic thing about your post ..... before votes were cast the voters were warned by EU officials that they 'shouldn't vote the wrong way' !!! It will be interesting what happens in the Spanish GE in December - hopefully another win for parties that stand up to the EU.

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Buzzer said:

It's interesting and not in a good way. The new Greek government have explicitly said that the austerity measures imposed upon them by the Troika are in the past but I really can't see the main creditors tearing up any significant part of the loans given the precedent it will set. Experts have said that the Greek economy WILL pick up slightly from this election partly from the feelgood factor and partly because of the Hawthorne Effect but that any recovery will be very short-lived. The Greeks simply can't return to anywhere near where they were with the public sector salaries and pensions. The simple maths makes it unsustainable even if they were not in debt.

My own opinion (which is worth diddly squat!) is that the Greek Government will crash and burn...and badly. At heart they have a Trotskyite agenda that's simply incompatible with membership of the EU and the Euro. I don't know now whether the Germans are in favour of a Grexit or not. The pros are clear - they jettison a basket case economy of a country ruled by communists and Nazis. The cons are that a Greek exit is a part admission of failure of the Grand Project, one of whom's aims was to remove extremism in Europe. Unfortunately for Merkel, it's a lose-lose because whatever happens she, Germany and the EU will be seen as the bad guys for whatever happens (and there are some, myself included who think they deserve that title). This is not a great day for the EU. One of its member states has elected a hard-left Government but the Nazis came third and the party that ruled Greece for the major part of its EU membership has collapsed and become a minor player.

This result WILL encourage anti-austerity parties but also Eurosceptic parties too. I've never been firmer in my belief that the UK will best be served by complete withdrawal from the EU and it's corrupt, self-serving bureaucrats.

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Westdene Seagull said:

And now confirmed that an anti-austerity coalition has been formed. Will the EU and Germany finally get the bloody nose they deserve ?

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Herr Tubthumper said:

Greece want a partial write-off and restructure of debt, EU, to date, have said there's no negotiation. My gut feeling is a meeting in the middle with no write-off but a sensible restructuring. Greece owes bailout debt to the EU, ECB and the IMF though; I'm sure between Greece and these three everyone will get something close to what they ultimately want. I do not think this is going to be as bigger-issue as many might currently feel. I am also certain this will not lead to a Greek exit which the new coalition seem to agree with from their recent comments.

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Buzzer said:

It's interesting and not in a good way. The new Greek government have explicitly said that the austerity measures imposed upon them by the Troika are in the past but I really can't see the main creditors tearing up any significant part of the loans given the precedent it will set. Experts have said that the Greek economy WILL pick up slightly from this election partly from the feelgood factor and partly because of the Hawthorne Effect but that any recovery will be very short-lived. The Greeks simply can't return to anywhere near where they were with the public sector salaries and pensions. The simple maths makes it unsustainable even if they were not in debt.

My own opinion (which is worth diddly squat!) is that the Greek Government will crash and burn...and badly. At heart they have a Trotskyite agenda that's simply incompatible with membership of the EU and the Euro. I don't know now whether the Germans are in favour of a Grexit or not. The pros are clear - they jettison a basket case economy of a country ruled by communists and Nazis. The cons are that a Greek exit is a part admission of failure of the Grand Project, one of whom's aims was to remove extremism in Europe. Unfortunately for Merkel, it's a lose-lose because whatever happens she, Germany and the EU will be seen as the bad guys for whatever happens (and there are some, myself included who think they deserve that title). This is not a great day for the EU. One of its member states has elected a hard-left Government but the Nazis came third and the party that ruled Greece for the major part of its EU membership has collapsed and become a minor player.

This result WILL encourage anti-austerity parties but also Eurosceptic parties too. I've never been firmer in my belief that the UK will best be served by complete withdrawal from the EU and it's corrupt, self-serving bureaucrats.

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