Greece General Discussion

[Velasco]

Days ago, Jean-Claude Juncker warned Greeks of "major problems" if they vote in the "wrong" way. Pierre Moscovici avoided an explicit endorsement, but praised the "impressive" strides made by the government.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/12/us-greece-eurozone-juncker-idUSKBN0JQ16E20141212

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKBN0JU19T20141216?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

Seven Golden Dawn MPs granted prison leave to attend presidential vote!

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_16/12/2014_545471

A couple of polls.

MRB (December 15)

Syriza 30,8%, ND 26.7%, To Potami 7.3%, Olive Tree (PASOK) 7%, KKE 6.4%, XA 5.7%, ANEL 3.6%, Other 10.6%.

GPO (December 15)

Syriza 28%, ND 23.1%, To Potami 6%, KKE 5.5%, PASOK 5.1%, XA 5%, ANEL 2.7%, ANTARYSIA 1,3%, LAOS 1,3%, Undecided 15.3%.

[Velasco]

Of course they are counterproductive. Every time I read hypocrite statements by the great protector of tax evaders, I feel more tempted to throw myself into the arms of demagogues. Are Samaras, Passos Coelho or Rajoy anything different from obedient pawns?

[Velasco]

If they are contemplating the "Parenthesis of the Left" scenario, it's clear that -in order to stay in power- they don't care if they are undermining the present and the future of the country. The easy conclusion is that Samaras and Venizelos lack of moral legitimacy before the Greek people, because they are part of the problem. Therefore, getting rid of both is the first step to change anything. Hopefully for better, but that's uncertain. 

http://www.thetoc.gr/eng/politics/article/the-trap-set-for-tsipras-a-parenthesis-of-the-left

[Velasco]

France offered "support, but not relief".

I'll quote Krugman, since common sense is fairly uncommon as of late:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/30/opinion/paul-krugman-europes-greek-test.html

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[Velasco]

So Greece swept in an inexperienced party with unseemly cultural-liberal tendencies, which then formed government with a party with very unseemly cultural-ultraconservative tendencies, for, essentially, nothing? Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

You should not become discouraged too soon. As Krugman wrote recently, " big fights are still to come".

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/opinion/paul-krugman-what-greece-won.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fpaul-krugman&action=click&contentCollection=Opinion&module=Collection&region=Marginalia&src=me&pgtype=article

Despite what Krugman calls the "unholy alliance between left-leaning writers with unrealistic expectations and the business press, which likes the story of Greek debacle because that’s what is supposed to happen to uppity debtors", the Syriza government didn't show the servitude of the François Hollande administration. Remember that Greece is a bankrupt country and its economy only represents a 2% of the Eurozone. While it was unrealistic to expect major concessions from the great powers, the negotiations showed differences inside the EU membership and, according to James K Galbraith (who is the son of that Galbraith and advised Varoufakis in the negotiation), the Commission and the ECB were more "constructive" than certain national governments. For instance, Spain and Portugal fought bitterly any type of concessions to Greece due to domestic policy reasons. Both are struggling to convince their voters that austerity works, despite all evidence, and have a deep interest in the failure of the Greek government. Such attitude is not only a sample of servitude and misguided economic extremism, it's highly irresponsible. If Syriza fails and is humiliated, as many radicals would like, it will be a gain for the Golden Shower, which is awaiting for its window of opportunity. Chancellor Brüning implemented austerity in Germany in the early 30s and everybody knows the consequences.