Alexis Tsipras of Greece Faces Political Convulsions Despite Good Intentions of France
Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker
Modern Tokyo Times
The nation of France enabled Greece to find breathing space because Germany desired even harsher terms during intense talks about the bailout plan. Despite this, the Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras faces major political and social convulsions. Indeed, Tsipras also doesn’t support the new terms of the economic bailout but given the severity of the crisis he believed he had no other options. Therefore, the current leader of Greece faces a very difficult period based on internal and external factors.
Tsipras states: “I assume responsibility for all mistakes I may have made, I assume responsibility for a text I do not believe in, but which I signed to avoid disaster for the country, the collapse of the banks.”
Ironically, while Tsipras doesn’t belong to the middle ground in politics, it could be argued that in the end the middle ground was forced upon him at the eleventh hour. However, some within the same political party are not happy about the perceived European Union diktat based on their political leanings. Therefore, with the politicians of Greece needing to ratify new austerity measures, it is clear that Tsipras faces a very difficult situation.
The BBC reports “The conditional plan depends on austerity measures being passed through parliament, where Mr Tsipras faces resistance among his own MPs.”
Within Europe, France clearly stepped in at the eleventh hour to help Greece because Germany was pushing for capitulation until political elites in Paris upped the ante. After all, Manuel Valls, the Prime Minister of France, stated strongly before bailout talks that France “refuses a Greek exit from the Eurozone.
President Hollande of France clearly had no intention for allowing Greece to be pushed out of the Eurozone prior to bailout talks. Not surprisingly, Germany – and other European nations – took note despite clear differences. However, the final decision will be taken by the parliament of Greece with regards to ratification. Therefore, in this sense, Tsipras must carry on the logic of Hollande who stressed to the leader of Greece to “Help me to help you.”
If the parliament of Greece ratifies the harsh austerity measures then France will be able to continue to help the current political elites in Greece. Yet, given the internal political tensions facing Tsipras – and social convulsions that may erupt based on various factors – then clearly the path ahead is extremely rocky.
The BBC reports about the parliamentary vote in Greece by stating “Mr Tsipras may need the help of opposition parties, with a number of Syriza MPs likely to rebel and the junior coalition party, the Independent Greeks, offering only limited support.”
This reality spells trouble for Tsipras and the political party Syriza. After all, the harshness of austerity agreed by the leader of Greece doesn’t match the ideology of the party he belongs to. Therefore, it appears that internal political and social convulsions await the people of Greece, irrespective of the final decision taken by the parliament of this nation.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33530201
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