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-Election 2012
Greek voters punish ruling coalition, reward far left
2012-05-07
Translation: Greek voters are petulant children who don't want to pay for the many mistakes they've made.
GreeceÂ’s former finance minister and Socialist party leader called for a broad coalition government of pro-European parties, ruling out a two-party government with his conservative rivals after his party received a drubbing in SundayÂ’s parliamentary elections.

Official projected results showed Evangelos VenizelosÂ’ PASOK party plunging to third place with 13.6 percent and 42 seats in the 300-member parliament. The conservative New Democracy was projected in the lead with 19.18 percent and 109 seats, far below the 151 needed to form a government. The margin of error was 0.5 percentage point.

“A coalition government of the old two-party system would not have sufficient legitimacy or sufficient domestic and international credibility if it would gather a slim majority,” Venizelos said. “A government of national unity with the participation by all the parties that favor a European course, regardless of their positions toward the loan agreements, would have meaning.”
Doesn't the leader of the leading party get to decide what the coalition will be? Why is Venizelos running his mouth? His party is in third. Perhaps he should let the two leaders work it out and give him a call if they need/want him.
If borne out by final results, the outcome is devastating for PASOK, which won a landslide victory in 2009 with more than 43 percent of the vote.

Voters outraged by GreeceÂ’s protracted financial crisis and the austerity measures imposed in return for international bailouts punished both main parties, turning to smaller anti-bailout groups instead. The leftist Syriza, which was projected in second place with 16.3 percent and 50 seats, has been strongly opposed to GreeceÂ’s bailout agreements.
Posted by:Steve White

#13  "National Socialists" are "far-right" only in the eyes of "International Socialists".

This is one of my pet peeves lately. The Nazis were Socialists. They called themselves the National Socialist German Workers Party, fer cripes sake. Try telling this to someone who 'knows' the Nazis are right-wing. You'd have an easier time explaining quantum mechanics to a cow.
Posted by: SteveS   2012-05-07 19:47  

#12  "Facism is always descending on America, but it always lands in Europe."
Posted by: Barbara   2012-05-07 18:51  

#11  Looks like the far right also gained seats. Anti immigrant, tired of supporting non greeks, called neo nazis.

Wanna bet their economic policies are indistinguishable from the rest of those elected? "National Socialists" are "far-right" only in the eyes of "International Socialists".
Posted by: Rob Crawford   2012-05-07 18:33  

#10  Fair point, Beavis. When the Greeks cut their government budget by a third they can call. Spain, Italy, same thing.

Of course, we could cut ours by a third and not miss much.
Posted by: Steve White   2012-05-07 17:46  

#9  

What austerity?
Posted by: Beavis   2012-05-07 15:35  

#8  Didn't the EU install the current gov't by fiat not long ago? My take is that either they will step in again, or the Greeks will be summarily kicked out of the Euro as the Germans decide that they've played Daddy Warbucks for too long.

I figure that France is rapidly looking to join Greece. At that point the whole house of cards collapses.
Posted by: AlanC   2012-05-07 14:47  

#7  Common to all democracies are electorates who act like petulant children, unwilling to pay (themselves, anyway) for the many mistakes they have made, are currently benefiting from, continue to make, and will make in the future.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2012-05-07 13:00  

#6  Looks like the far right also gained seats. Anti immigrant, tired of supporting non greeks, called neo nazis.
Posted by: bman   2012-05-07 12:20  

#5  To be honest the far-left is doing what proper capitalists would do.

i.e. no bailouts.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2012-05-07 11:57  

#4  not a bad idea Frank!
Posted by: Water Modem   2012-05-07 11:22  

#3  Hoping to pick up a Greek Island for my retirement home in 2015. $500-$600 bucks?
Posted by: Frank G   2012-05-07 10:43  

#2  They're just hastening the inevitable. Might as well get it over with.
Posted by: Spot   2012-05-07 08:01  

#1  Translation: Greek voters are petulant children who don't want to pay for the many mistakes they've made

couldn't have said it better myself
Posted by: Waldemar Hupereque3841   2012-05-07 02:54  

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