Greece rocked.....

Did Antonis Samaras (leader of the Greek ND Party) cause Greece to shake yesterday?  Well after his visit to the Peloponnese there were two earthquakes of 4.1 & 2.8 on the Richter scale, but did he really expect the sort of "shake up" his party got from the national elections?  I think not.  His demands for this election as part of his agreeing to the requirements of the EU bail out money surely now must give him sleepless nights. 

My blog yesterday predicted the obvious "hung" parliament and now the farce starts of trying to form a Greek government. Whatever "cobbled together" government emerges it can only result in Greece being worse off than before these elections.  I say that because the parties on both the right & left extremes of the political spectrum can not and will not be acceptable to a democratic European Union.  Sadly the current situation brings this country to its most critical political period since the Military Junta of 1967-1974.  


My hope is that N.D & PASOK will find a way to work together and create a pro-European government excluding these  crazy extremist sectors of our community.   The actions of the next week or so as to what government emerges will define Greek history once more. 

Greek Elections

It is surprising that in the lead up to the elections in Greece very few towns and villages around my location have seen the normal electioneering posters plastered on buildings, walls etc. Not that I am complaining but they are certainly noticeable by their absence!

Indeed despite the seemingly lack of publicity by the political parties we shall by this time tomorrow  know the decision of the Greek people in respect of their choice for a new Government and new mandate.  Not that I expect any party to have overall majority, as I truly believe both main political parties have failed to gain the confidence of the public as to the actions required to take Greece out of the current economic crisis.

The worry is that if the "majority" party wants to gain office just what are they willing to comprise, and just how far will they divert to the right, or left?

It is not that long ago that Greece saw a very communistic outlook on life, and indeed a military government. With that last fact in mind perhaps one day we shall know the true reason George Papandreou, during his term of office dismissed the three Chiefs of Military staff (little was internationally publicised at the time). The point I make is that if the EU continue to squeeze the Greek people, the people will rise up; as history shows us true poverty, lack of work etc. is a course to civil unrest. The police may retain control, but if they fail or even support Mr & Mrs Joe Public then as we saw in the Arab states the only option left for the government is military intervention...........a disaster!

Whatever the parliamentary result is continual support within the EU is essential if Greece is to remain a stable member of the "club". Some of my close friends will know the term used often by one of our work leaders...T.I.N.A.