Posted on 05/27/2014 7:16:11 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Greece's left-wing party Syriza bucked the lurch right in Europe's elections, beating the country's two political mainstays into first place.
The party posted an estimated 27% of the vote, four points clear of the center-right's New Democracy, which is headed by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.
'The results were in sharp contrast to the dramatic rise of Marine Le Pen's National Front in France and UKIP in the United Kingdom, both far-right nationalist parties. Syriza received almost three times the votes polled by Greece's far-right Golden Dawn party, which gained nearly 10% and two parliamentarians despite its leaders facing charges of running a criminal organization.
Syriza's leader Alexis Tsipras said in a press conference Europe had taken "an important step for the end of the disastrous policies of austerity and the return of democracy. The people of Europe [have] condemned the policies of austerity."
Tsipras, who dominated the left-wing stage during Greece's national elections in 2012, said the results were "historic," and revealed a firm rejection of Europe's austerity measures.
"The message is that the disastrous policy of austerity must be terminated. All European nations must invest in democracy, growth, social cohesion and solidarity," he said.
In a statement, Syriza said the European election results showed the government no longer had "moral and political legitimacy" to negotiate with Europe and that the party would seek a snap election.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Unfortunately, decades of leaching off the EU have not improved Greek politics.
Greece, the home of Athenian Democracy... exactly what the American Founders went out of their way to avoid.
Greece has a situation particular to itself.
The country was ruled by a left wing coalition of the PASOK socialist party and the so-called ‘conservative’ party New Democracy. In the wake of the economic collapse which hit Greece harder than any other country, an EU coup installed a ‘technocrat’ after the prime minister was forced to resign.
In the elections, the voters had a choice between five main parties. PASOK were puppets of the EU and pledged to continue with unpopular austerity measures to keep Greece in the union. New Democracy pledged to alter the agreement to make it less harsh. The newly formed radical left wing coalition Syriza promised a total rejection of austerity due to its impact on public workers and general welfare. On the fringe were the ever-present KKE communist party and the national socialist Golden Dawn who also rejected austerity but mainly capitalized on the unrest caused by mass immigration from Albania, Turkey, and Syria. They had been around for a while, but would now benefit greatly from the collapse of the right wing LAOS coalition which was a largely Orthodox political movement.
Voters almost handed Syriza a victory, but stuck with New Democracy instead, choosing to punish PASOK for the years of mismanagement. However, New Democracy did not keep their promise, and caved to all of the European Union’s demands. This has led to it bleeding support to Syriza and Golden Dawn (who have only been hindered by a bungled and obviously corrupt indictment as a terrorist group).
Do not be surprised by a Syriza victory to come. The Greeks were force-fed austerity while being trapped in the EU’s loser column. They should have left long ago.
I’m going to go way out on a limb and predict more and lasting pain in Greece’s future.
Just about time for the colonels to take over again...
The European Left's candidate for the European Commission presidency, Alexis Tsipras, Friday called for the immediate release of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams who is been held for questioning in connection with the 1972 murder of Jean McConville. Tsipras called the arrest a "politically inflammatory act against democracy".
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