The next day

DIMITRIS BATZELIS (*)

 

 

The results of national elections of the 20^th September in Greece reconfirmed the political dominance of Syriza and A. Tsipras  particularly. It is well ahead of the conservative party of New Democracy (ND) by 7% (35%-28%).  Almost  the same as in the elections eight months ago (January 25th). However it failed to get the absolute majority in the Parliament, so a coalition government formed with the rightist populist party of the “Independent Greeks” (ANEL) which at the last moment achieved to pass the threshold  of 3% required by the electorate law a party to be represented in the Parliament.  In other words the same awkward coalition as in the January 25^th elections.

The eight months co-government Syriza-Anel,  although short one, was full of painful political facts. Syriza came face to face with the harsh reality of a country in deep crisis. All the years before the January’s elections, Syriza had promised everything to everybody, exercising a divisive populist rhetoric.  As a government,  not only failed to deliver any of its promises, but also was forced to negotiate with the creditors a new bail-out program.  If not, Greece would be at the verge of Grexit. The new bail-out program caused a lot of turmoil in Syriza ranks. As a result the left flank (40 deputies) seceded and the program approved in the Parliament thanks to the support of the pro-European Parties (ND, PASOK, POTAMI). In the same time the government stepped down and new elections were declared.

At that point a question arises: Why Syriza, although failed to deliver any of its promises, won again the elections?  It seems the reasons are :

1. It is very difficult to the people to change their mind in just eight- month time after the last elections.
2. No credible political alternative. New Democracy promised also the implementation of the new bail -out program. No reason for the people then to change sides
3. The majority of the people don’t want the return in the power of the “ancien regime”.
4. Throughout the electorate campaign we could hear the people saying: “Let’s give a second chance to the boy”.

Here we would like to stress  that perhaps the real winner of the  elections is the abstinence. The 45% of the electorate body refused voting. In just eight months ago the abstinence was 36%.

As for the performance of the other Parties, New Democracy is the main opposition Party. It is in the process of electing  new President in November. It needs a deep restoration in both political program and personnel. Unfortunately the pro fascist Party of Golden Dawn is the third Party in Parliament (7%). PASOK improved its performance by 2% (now 6,3%) since the last elections in January 2015. POTAMI, the Party of the gentle “indignados”,  lost the 1/3 of its votes since the last elections (now 4%). Once again it is proved that political forces without deep roots in the society and clear ideological identity, it is difficult to survive in the long term. The “Popular Unity”,  the people    who left Syriza, failed to pass the threshold of 3%. So they are not represented in the Parliament. Their electorate campaign was politicaly poor and misery. It is sure that their political future is bleak. In the Communist Party  (5,1%) nothing changes. Everything over there is still nature.

To sum up, in Greece the last five years everything was turned upside down. The country has lost 25% of its GDP,  the rate of unemployment rose from 10% to 25%. The economy is inert, the people disappointed.  The new, three years duration,  bail-out program is very tough. Many painful reforms must be done in the banks, in social insurance, in labor law, in taxation and in privatisation.  Syriza, a constellation of various communist and activist factions, is undergoing  its maturity process. The hedgehog started walking. In its eight months first term subjected to the creditors, in its second term will be compromised to the local Establishment.

Greek people have no other option than to fight for the recuperation and development of the economy. They have decided overwhelmingly to stay in the Eurozone. We hope that the leadership of the latter will show some understanding.

 

 

* Analista político

Comments

[Publicado por: Luis]

Excelllent article, may the first written by a Greek about his/her country on the Spanish papers. Congratulations to Alternativas for the iniciative!