Free Republic

... The German chancellor’s disapproval helped end the political careers of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and Greek leader George Papandreou. After burning through whatever goodwill he had with Merkel’s lawmakers and the German public, the current Greek premier could be next.... “We are watching the end of the political career of Alexis Tsipras,” Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at Peterson Institute in Washington, said in a Bloomberg Radio interview. “Mr. Tsipras can continue his career on T-shirts for students, replacing Che Guevara.”... Refusing to play ball with Germany didn’t turn out well for Berlusconi, whose premiership had survived...

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and opposition leader Antonis Samaras have agreed on a new coalition government, the office of the country's president said on Sunday.

Debt Crises: What a sorry spectacle to watch Greeks rioting in the streets in reaction to austerity measures. As if tantrums can change reality. It's Exhibit A of how socialism infantilizes citizens. The only cure is free markets. As Greece's legislature heads for a vote Wednesday to cut the size of its government by $40 billion in exchange for the last $17 billion of a $156 billion International Monetary Fund bailout on July 3, the world's television screens are flooded with images of young "indignantes" calling a riotous 48 hour-strike in Athens. Steeped in socialism for decades, these Greeks see...

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou called on Sunday for a fall referendum on "changes to the political system," including to the country's constitution. Opening a three-day parliamentary debate that will culminate in a confidence vote late Tuesday, Papandreou blamed Greece's bloated and inefficient state sector for bringing the country to its knees and vowed to effect deep changes. He also said the constitutional revision will make it easier to prosecute delinquent government officials.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has announced tough austerity measures aimed at cutting his country's soaring public debt. These include a public sector pay freeze and fuel duty increases. [interview with 3 citizens]

KASTELLORIZO, Greece (Reuters) - European Union president Greece challenged its partners on Saturday to consider backing the use of force as a last resort against "irresponsible nations" that build weapons of mass destruction. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou raised the sensitive issue on how to deal with states developing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, several of whom opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq. "Weapons of mass destruction and their proliferation are probably as historically destabilizing as the invention and spread of gunpowder," Papandreou said, according to speaking notes obtained by Reuters. "If our...