Greek countdown towards a government or fresh elections is ticking at a high speed. On Sunday, the president’s meetings with political leaders in an attempt to form a government failed. However, president Karolos Papoulias does not give up. He has refreshed his invitations to leaders of ND, SYRIZA, PASOK and DEMOCRATIC LEFT for 07:30 pm on Monday.
While ND,PASOK and DEMLEFT accepted, SYRIZA declared yesterday that it would not join the Monday-talks.
After a storm of “claims and blames” and accusations that Tsipras was blocking the formation of a new government, SYRIZA issued a statement on Monday morning saying that, leader Alexis Tsipras does not intent to participate “in selective meetings with other political leaders.”
Further, SYRIZA criticized the president for having not invited INDEPENDENT GREEKS and Communist KKE to tongiht’s talks questioning the ‘political purpose’ of trying to form a national unity or broadely accepted government without the participation of the parties that emerged fourth and fifth from the elections. “The President is moving at the institutions edges’ SYRIZA statement said.
Papoulias’ Plan B
President Papoulias did no manage to convince the leaders on Sunday and he may have an alternative plan to table tonight:
A government consisting of technocrats and other personalities. A government of duration of only a couple of months with the purpose to address important economic problems [additional austerity measures in June, general economic situation] and head the country to new elections, most probably in September.
Of course, one should ask here: Did Greek cast a vote on May 6th just to get a politicians-free government? I thought the elections were more or less a pro or anti bailout referendum…
An expandedn alternative plan scenario claims that if Papoulias fails tonight, he may address the Greeks and brief them on the ‘crucial economic issues and the situation of the country’.
Caught in a deadlock
Whether “new”, “fresh” or “repeat” elections will be held sooner (June) or later (September) the problems will remain the same:
1) No absolute majority for any political party -even if the enhanced majority law would be changed canceling the 50-seats bonus for the first party to emerge from general elections. Because the people voted and intend to vote in favor of a coalition government, i.e. not to grant anyone to govern the country without the sufficient control by its government partners.
2) A four-party coalition would end up in pro-bailout ND and PASOK using anti-bailout SYRIZA and bailout-distanced DEMLEFT, as the two first parties will build a parliament voting majority front. On the other hand, anti-bailout legislation will be voted down by PASOK and ND. Such a fragile government would not manage to survive the month of July.
3) Economic problems will remain the same if not go worst as the state mechanism will be paralyzed due to political instability.
What to do? If I knew, I wouldn’t be a blogger but a political analyst or even a successful prime minister.
All I can say, it that we are trapped in the eye of an economic and political storm and that many people are fed up from the week long and non-stop disputes carried by journalists and politicians on our TV screens.
Generations of moral decay in Greece have led to not believing anything anyone says. Does Tsipras think that the EU is bluffing when they say Greece will be kicked out? I think Alexi thinks he is in high school still. Let the chips fall where they may.
Yes, the future looks grim.
I heard on BBC Economic News, that Greece produces only 52% of the food consumed here.
If Greece should go back to the Drachma, Greece would not be able (have any currency) to import the daily necessities such as food, petrol, oil for electricity and so on.
So I do hope that the voters do not get disappointed when reality strikes. Tsipras included.
All imported goods will be extremely costly if paid with a new very much devaluated Drachma.
Greece’s car park will be like the one in Cuba, but in stead of classic American models, here people will be driving around in old Japanese and German cars.
This is just an example. The same goes for computers, everything.
It’s nice to munch on Mass Media produced info but here’s the insider’s story. Greece was independent and can be independent again. EU force-closed most of the Greek production lines in order to enter the Euro Zone. Thank to the Greek politicians who even sold their country’s sovereignty… Going back to Drachmas, it would be the only solution for Greeks to take their future in their own hands again. You think the Brits were stupid cuz they didn’t adopt the Euro currency fraud and trap? BUT, the natural resources Greece has (natural gas, gold, oil) is a cherry that everyone wants to top their cake. In this case, it’s Germans. Again. Germans never lost WW2… only this time, they curry no guns but coins.
***that was CARRY and not curry 🙂
hungry?
Been sick and no sense of taste for a week… Just cravings 😀
Hello
It seems that you misinterpreted the number.
Greece produce 52% of the food consumed localy, but there is a big part that goes to export.
If everything was consumed localy, around 95% of the total neeeded could be produced here !
These numbers comes from the association of young agricultors of greece !
So I don’t think there is a need to worry about food !
Electricity is mainly produced with carbon, petrol would be a problem for heating, and for cars.
Anyway, do you think a lot of people will be able to afford heating petrol a 1.47€ per liter next year, with a 300€ salary ?
So what’s best ?
-fx
Tsipras showed he’s a smart guy in the past and he proved that by increasing Syriza’s share of the vote recently, in a very unfavorable situation (no chance to form a government because of the communists’ stubborn stance). So, the problem rather seems to be that he isn’t any different from other Greek politicians when it comes to honesty. There’s no way he can’t understand that his official plan can’t work, so he probably is aware that Greece would have to leave the Eurozone to get rid of austerity. He just doesn’t tell the voters of this secret strategy. It’s the same old demagoguery once again!
Find me the regulation that allows EU “kick out” (as you mentioned) any of its members… Do not bother… There is no way to do that unless the targeted country agrees to that. That is, EU cannot “kick out” Greece unless Greeks want to. You need to study EU better, prior to future posts and save yourself from been exposed.
talking to me? ‘kick out’ in terms like cutting aid and making it impossible for Greeks like pensioners and civil servants to survive. repeat elections, political deadlocks, referendum….
The so called “aid” is nothing but money transferred from the Banks… to the same bankers who cooperated with the corrupted politicians since the end of the WW2. The so called EU aid, 1st is not coming from EU and 2nd only a really small part of it goes to the public sector. Most of the package ends up paying interest and interest alone (which results from ILLEGAL LOANS).
Now, you may find online if you wish (which I doubt you really want to), the stats of Greek Government’s annual income/expenses. The income covers 130% of the annual expenses (salaries, pensions, funds included).
I’m telling you once more, please, DO NOT believe whatever Mass Media distributes or whatever channel you might collect your info. Re-producing the same lies makes no good to the already deceived Greek population. They still try to be informed online since TV, Newspapers and Radio try to threaten them with the false alarm of Bankruptcy, in order to vote for the same corrupted leaders who led them to this point.
The Greeks were never afraid of any sort of enemies. It’s proven. It’s written. It’s called History. That, you can easily find anywhere you look at.
Thing is, there is a general interest in the region, from huge “capitals”, and Greece is the last frontier of Europe, who actually resists (once more in Greek History).
Look what’s happening in the arc Libya, Egypt, Israel/Palestine/Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran…
What more would you need to realise what is really happening?
Greece is a member of NATO. They could not just go out and make a new war with actual guns…
Well, they could but it would be so desperate and obvious. That’s why they made up with puppets from IMF and ex-Goldman Sachs members, to take over Greek Government (check Italy as well).
Is it coincidental that Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece (same arc again) face huge “crisis”?
Is it also coincidental that Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia were not harmed (yet)… still under a French favour… while Lybia was destroyed cuz Gaddafi was dreaming of uniting all African Countries and Services (Central African Bank, Power & Telecommunications etc), thus cutting billions from US and others?
Greece, besides the climate and sea which gives an immense potential to sea products and agriculture, has natural resources (gas, gold, oil) and all past attempts to excavate (for decades) have been banned from past Greek governments… Now, all of a sudden (!) they found out that there IS potential and natural resources…
But of course… almost the whole Greek region will soon belong to German Bankers (or whoever is behind them)… IF the second Memorandum is completed.
That’s why they want Greece go bankrupt through Euro. It will cost them less to buy every corner of it (the population included).
Why don’t Germans give Greece all those BILLIONS they owe since WW2, for the mass destruction of the whole country? Eh? Any ideas?
It would pay back the Greek Debts you know…
It’s not that simple my friend.
Coming back to your point of ‘Greek starvation without euro-aid’… I can attach you the link to the copy of the official Greek Balance Sheet/Budget for the fiscal years 2011-2012
But of course, it is in Greek
Greece has the ability to cover its needs if the right people take charge. And that is why all this theatre of terror… so that voters are deceived once more (like many times before)