One of Greece “best friends”, Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter set new rules in the decision -making process of democratic elections. For Greece, not for Austria. “Greek elections are a de facto referendum” said Fekter during an interview with Austrian newspaper Die Presse.
“The elections are a de facto referendum on the euro. The Greeks have to think about what they want. Even with an exit, they will continue to be dependent on funding from the EU. To the austerity measures, the country will not get around, either way.”
Fekter’s equation of the impossible comes hours after – or despite of – the German government denials, that Chancellor Angela Merkel never made such a ‘sinner’ proposal to Greek President.
The Austrian FinMin expressed her concern about the country’s – Greece’s- political situation:
“The political instability in Greece is alarming. Before the elections we can not establish a de facto calculation probability. The question is also: What does the International Monetary Fund do? The contact was broken off until the election. Certain statements coming from Greece give me the creeps: that the EU would continue to pay anyway, even if the Greeks would not satisfy the requirements. I can not explain it anymore to my taxpayers.”
De Facto Fekter: “shortly, without von delay…”
Last week while Greeks were struggling to get a government, Maria Fekter criticized the proposal by the Greek President Karolos Papoulias to resolve the Greek crisis with a government of experts [technocrats’ government. she was even surprised that Papademos government would not stay in power after the elections:
“As for myself, I am rather surprised that the current government will not remains in office, but new people will come. A new government of experts. That means we’ll have to start from Adam and Eve again and explain, how to keep on with the loan agreement [bailout]“, Fekter said before the start of EU finance ministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. (Die Presse)
Ah, another one who thinks there is a choice, when there is in fact non. The 80% of Greeks who want the euro would have to vote for ND or PASOK, who are also supporters of the crazy policies of the last two years. And all parties who are opposed to those policies want Greece out of the Euro…
Why do they not understand that the Greek people are damned if they do and damned if they don’t…
As for her last point: that’s a valid one. I have written about that here before. In almost all countries the caretaker government would have been the old government until there is a new one. But not here… Here we now have a bunch of professors, a former general and some others who all never had any experience in the real economy and in real life. And once again, there is not a hint of the continuity Greece and the Greeks need so badly.
but not after elections….
Yes AFTER elections, with a new parliament. Still the old government until there is new government.
Couple examples:
* The current Dutch government under PM Rutte: Elections were held on 9 June 2010. The sitting government under PM Balkenende stayed in function until 14 October 2010, when PM Rutte and his ministers were sworn in.
* More famous and notorious is Belgium: on 22 April 2010 PM Leterme handed in his resignation. There were elections on 13 June 2010 and Leterme and his government stayed on as caretakers government until 5 December 2011 when Elio Di Rupo succeeded him. That is 541 days.
* Even the USA has a transition period when the new president is elected on 15 November and is inaugurated on 20 January. A transition period of 2 months in which the sitting President still has all his powers.
All this is done to ensure continuity. Something that is woefully lacking here in Greece.
whether with old guard or new persons, the hands of interim gov are tied anyway, guys.
Right, Antonis! But imho more problematic than the missing “real life” qualifications (politicians aren’t geniusses, neither) is the missing motivation and courage. We already read statements by those interim officials that say “this is outside the scope of our mandate”. This clearly shows that this temporary government is next to useless. Papoulias could have declared the government is on holiday for a month instead, and nobody would notice any difference. Well, at least the expenses for those new minnisters could have been saved…
Syrizas proposals are proeuro and antiausterity, so that seems to be in line with current opinion polls. They want another Europe.
the Grexit scenario would probably be combined with a state default that should send waves of horror through the banking systems.
It seems very unprudent for non-greek politicians to be meddling into what the greeks should vote for, its like putting oil on fire.
Imho there should a different referendum: “Which measures do you support in order for Greece to be able to stay in the Eurozone?”
This question should be followed by a multiple choice list that starts with “Nothing”. I’m sure that an overwhelming majority would chose A). That’s the problem. Why should other Eurozone citizens fund the free lunch of people who aren’t willing to contribute anything to it?