Sunday, May 6, 2012

Here we go again

Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn warned rivals and reformers Sunday that “the time for fear has come” after exit polls showed them securing their entry in parliament for the first time in nearly 40 years. 
“The time for fear has come for those who betrayed this homeland,” Golden Dawn leader Nikos Michaloliakos told a news conference at an Athens hotel, flanked by menacing shaven-headed young men.

“We are coming,” the 55-year-old said as supporters threw firecrackers outside.
Agence France-Presse via Raw Story
After electoral gains, Greek neo-Nazis warn ‘the time for fear has come’
by Will Vassilopoulos

Not what the Eurocrats bargained for.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stupid f-ing banksters and Euro-techies.

Matt said...

Well, right now Nea Dimokratia and Pa.So.K (the two main traditional left/right parties) have exactly 150 seats out of 300.

http://www.ekloges.ypes.gr/v2012a/public/index.html?lang=en#{%22cls%22:%22main%22,%22params%22:{}}

It looks possible that that may drop below 150, meaning that those two pro-austerity parties could not (even theoretically) form a coalition together. Essentially, Nea Dimokratia has an opportunity to form a coalition, but it is not going to be able to do so - or possibly, they might be able to form an EXTREMELY unstable government which will last a very short amount of time.

But if Nea Dimokratia fails to form a government, then Syriza (the anti-austerity left) gets a chance to form a government, but they won't be able to do so either. Then Pa.So.K gets a chance to try and form a government, but they won't be able to either.

So it seems highly likely that there will be another election soon. In the next election, I would guess that Syriza will probably come in first, as the pro-austerity parties continue to bleed support and as it becomes clear that Syriza is the primary (left) alternative. Whichever party comes in first gets a +50 seat bonus, so if they win, Syriza should be able to form a government after the next election.

Once that happens, something has to give... One way or another, no more austerity, Greece leaves the Euro, or... something else new.

But it is worth noting that the way the Nazis in Germany came to power is by gradually increasing their vote share in repetitive elections. And it appears that Greece is about to have more elections.

Calgacus said...

Not what the Eurocrats bargained for
You sure about that? The Greek Minister of Transport & Industry appointed by the new Eurocrat-imposed government was a fascist thug. Austerity & Fascism In Greece – The Real 1% Doctrine

Pretty much the Eurocracy is turning out to be what Hitler's financial & industrial backers wanted to have, thought they were getting, instead of ole Adolph. Mixed with the Bruningesque destruction & stupidity that preceded it. Think there is a real good chance that they will get what they want (for a good long while) better this time around; they've succeeded pretty well so far.

Michaloliakos said his party would fight against “world usurers” and the “slavery” of an EU-IMF loan agreement which he likened to a “dictatorship”.
Nothing wrong with that.

A mathematician, Michaloliakos has said Greece could survive “very nicely” without the EU-IMF recovery deal. “Certainly we should break the agreement,” ... “After that, we will survive very nicely. Greece is a rich country,” he said, adding that the country would not necessarily have to return to the drachma.
An innumerate "mathematician" apparently. He'd repudiate the Euro & its loan sharks (good!) but NOT bring back the drachma? Will have a non-monetary economy ruled by Zeus from Olympus I guess?

Anonymous said...

Not what they bargained for?

I think you're far too kind ... It's the least they could have expected. Take enough from people and they tend to get a little p*ssed.

Not only does the research conclusively show swings in support toward far right, nationalistic groups in times of severe stress, but actively screwing your own population on top of it is simply a recipe for disaster ... Yet another argument for the economic boffins and so-called experts to embrace the interconnectivity (hey, maybe I should become El Erian and repeat that word 50,000 times a day to make it my own!!) between economic, social, sociopolitical and psychological forces. Oh, I forgot, mass populations are rational ...

Apj

googleheim said...

if you search this blog, then you will see I already predicted this in greece

it's a shame

Ryan Harris said...

The elections were a smashing success in the sense that the people are taking control from the unelected, German appointed government. If the people can further wrest control of their currency or at least shed the austerity requirements of EU membership, they will return to growth and (hopefully) jettison the fascists at home and from Germany.

Anonymous said...

Ralph Musgrave will be pleased

Anonymous said...

If Greece leaves the eurozone, get really for a drachma hyperinflationary spike

Ryan Harris said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tom Hickey said...

Calgacus: "'Not what the Eurocrats bargained for"
You sure about that?"

As I recall, the Eurocrats wanted to create greater political union through economic union in order to preclude what has been the case historically in Europe. What they are getting renewed animosity and nationalism, as well as the rise in popularity of extremist parties.

Clonal said...

From Athens News

Quote:
Syriza head Alexis Tsipras, speaking from party HQ, shot down any chance of sitting at the same coalition table with Antonis Samaras and the coalition parties. He said that: "We strongly believe that the country's salvation will achieved through the rejection of these barbaric measures, through relief from recession and the looting of pensions and salaries, through the cancelation of austeritry measures and their replacement with measures to boost the economy and tax built-up wealth so that funds are found to help the weaker sections (of society). The campaign positions of Mr. Samaras are diametrically opposed to the alternate proposals of a left-wing government. Most importantly: He has signed the second loand agreement and the new harsh measures foreseen for the Greek people, due to start in the coming days.Given these facts, there can no governoment of national salvation, as he has named it, because his signatures and commitments to the loan agreement do not constitute salvation but a tragedy for the people and the country.We are fully aware of the difficulties that the country is facing but also the possibilities that are emerging after the people have spoken, a chance for a radically different course. We will not re-introduce measures through the window that the Greek people have kicked out through the front door. We issue a clear warning to all parties, inside the country and outside the country, to respect the espression of the electorate and not attempt to impose barbaric measures. Our message of our people to European leadership is clear, the Greek people last night rejected the politcy of austeritry, as it is being rejected by all the peoples of Europe. The time has come for it to be withdrawn".

Clonal said...

The left parties, as usual shot themselves in the foot. In Greece, the leading party or coalition of parties gets and additional 50 seats (out of 300) - which is why ND has 108 seats (actually 58 + 50)

From - The Earthquake in Greece

Quote:
Greece's left would have even been in the majority had its two other major left-wing parties -- KKE and the Democratic Left (DA) -- been willing to join forces with SYRIZA heading into the elections. The two parties secured 8 and 6 percent of the vote, respectively, which when combined with SYRIZA's 17 percent would have given the left an insurmountable 31 percent. Their disagreements, however, paved the way for ND to earn first bite at governance, while leaving KKE and DA marginalized as power brokers.

They would have gotten at least 170 seats after you add in the bonus 50 seats When the re-election occurs (either June 3rd, or June 10th,) it would be highly advisable for the three parties to approach the election as a coalition, and not as individual parties.