Calamos Supports Greece
GreekReporter.comGreeceThe Big Fat Greek Babel

The Big Fat Greek Babel


While the Greek political turmoil and the fate of the Euro-zone still dominate most of Saturday’s newspapers, Greece’s “national saviors” continue to fight like a married couple about who is going to “save” the country more. Little do they care whether their suffering people will actually get paid by the end of the month. Greeks, burdened by waves of spending and welfare cuts plus tax rises which have pushed  households to their limits, feel disgust at the political parody between Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Samaras.
Last night’s confidence vote and the this legendary coalition government story seems to have more turns and twists than those overpriced Greek bumpy roads that Greek tax payers have paid ten times more than any other European country.First it was a ‘yes’ for the referendum on the 26th of October agreement. But then, Nicola and Angela very democratically made clear that the Greek referendum would be about staying in or out the Euro and even set a date so that Greek George won’t get confused again and start making statements other than those agreed.  And then Greece’s next “savior” Antonis Samaras stepped up ready to save the country and asked for a coalition government in order to avoid the referendum, with one term: Papandreou would have to step down.
Confidence Vote: The new Big Fat Greek Lie?
Papandreou assured his own deputies who also wanted him out that he will resign but first they would have to vote YES in a confidence vote even though they clearly had no confidence in his government. The trick worked.  With 153 YES votes from his own deputies Greek Prime Minister won the confidence vote in a session full of speculations that at a certain point Papandreou would to resign. But surprise-surprise at the end of the day (and it was a long day) he didn’t! He said however he intends to quit within the next few days- and  offered the option of  a “national unity government” and early elections –maybe in March 2012. But then an “outraged”- with tons of Greek “μαγκιά”-Antonis strolled in front of the cameras and very decisively said “It’s finished! We say NO to coalition. We want elections now!”
So where are we now after another episode of this exhausting Samaras-Papandreou soap opera? At the same start-point as before. Papandreou is PM and will remain for a month or two. Or three (with him you never know) . Only the referendum is off the table. Samaras won’t cooperate and will wait for elections so that his political capital remains intact . He says yes  to the hard-fought package that offers hot cash and debt reduction but no to the repayment methods a.k.a the drastic spending cuts and austerity measures-which he says will “renegotiate” with Mrs. Merkel and Mr. Sarkozy (that should be fun).
So, Greeks have to choose between a Prime Minister who himself jeopardised the country’s place in the euro and rival parties that show little willingness to cooperate in tackling the nation’s economic, political and social crisis. It is as if Greek politicians don’t care whether their country is going to be saved or not. And if they don’t care why should the Germans and the French  give a dime both literally and metaphorically?

See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!



Related Posts