Financial Crisis in Greece

[DedoAleko]

google translation:

The real Alexis Tsipras

This, my friends, is not a radical left. This is the lowest kind of political opportunism. Tsipras and his party are fishing in muddy waters of the deep financial and social greek crisis and will do anything to come to power. greece has never been in a worse predicament than this choice.



A few days ago, while I enjoyed my tea in a cafe in Brussels, overheard a heated discussion at a table near me. The topic of the debate was Alexis Tsipras, 40-year-old leader of SYRIZA, which is likely to become the first greek prime minister comes from a party of the radical left.

In fact, this was the main point of tension between the panelists. Does Europe need to be afraid of the potential victory of "charismatic radical leftist" or he would "compromise to become more mainstream than the mainstream"?

Out of courtesy I did not want to interfere in the discussion, so I decided with you to share what I think about the above dilemma.

First of all, let's clarify a few things. Is Alexis Tsipras really radical leftist? The risk to disappoint a lot of people in Macedonia who he liked and who really believe that he is a radical leftist, I have to answer with a big "NO".

Alexis Tsipras is a complete product of the greek political system prevailing in the country of the year he was born (1974) until today. He is described as a "leader of school movement" in the early nineties, while actually only been president of student councils in his school. I also was on the job in my school and I know that the selection criteria of the "president" is anything but political (which, of course, and it is expected the 16-year-olds), but the look is important, the ability to talk and promises , and have at least some success with the opposite sex. I'm afraid that 25 years later, greece is preparing to elect the prime minister of these same reasons.

Tsipras has never had a real job in life, if we exclude the few short Replacing the technical office of his father. This, unfortunately, is one of the things that he shared with his political opponents. We Samaras never in his life worked real, Costas Karamanlis and Yorgos Papandreou - general. We saw where they took greece, among other things due to this factor. You can not have a sense of financial balance, we can not know that you only spend what you earn, if never in his life has not worked.

Let us now move on political terms. What is the definition of the radical left? Socialism (in other words, putting the people in the foreground) that ran and won (peaceful or otherwise) capitalism, internationalism, antinacionalizmot. Tsipras never actually not collided with the system because it is a product. Even if you like, he does not know how to do it. He has no idea what it is internationalism.

In a recent interview he admitted that it took many years to start thinking to travel abroad, not because they could not afford it, but because I did not think it was necessary. And when it finally began to travel the world as a leader of SYRIZA, he preferred destinations such as Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela, praising models and situations that they face there. It is no accident that he speaks English unacceptably bad (although lately trying to improve).



Tsipras, "radical leftist" is one of its top foreign policy adviser appointed former diplomat George Ajfantis, man Rainbow sued for slander! He is the one that wherever there are able to repeat the same boring story greek "red lines" in the name dispute. He is the one you qualify "Macedonian nationalism" as the main reason for the constant Greek veto the accession of Macedonia to the EU. He is the one that uses the same practices as well as his opponents to deceive the Macedonians in greece and "steal" their votes. Finally, he is one of the electoral lists SYRIZA put former MP from the ultra-nationalist party "Independent Greeks" and former MEP Tremopulos. Person during the presentation of the Macedonian primer Thessaloniki fiercely attacked greece, and now, suddenly, the Republic of Macedonia as "Skopje".

This, my friends, is not a radical left. This is the lowest kind of political opportunism. Tsipras and his party fishing in muddy waters of the deep financial and social greek crisis and will do anything to come to power. greece has never been in a worse predicament than this choice. From one side Samaras and represent everything he and those like him, and the other side is Tsipras and SYRIZA, which no matter what they set twice gave the same answer.

Tsipras is not what it is now necessary to greece, but he will win. For the sake of the country where I first saw the light of life and which can not fall into a worse situation than this, I sincerely hope that he bowed his head and will continue to work with the eu to bring greece into safer waters.
If he doesn't do that, to his list of attributes will add and stupidity. And it will mean the end of modern greece the way we know.

Yorgos Papadakis

izvor: http://m.mkd.mk/kolumni/vistinskiot-aleksis-cipras

[Poligiros]

Originally Posted by Philosopher

Interesting, so you are not happy with the election result.

How would you define yourself politically?

What do you believe is best in Greece's interest?

Who do you think is Greece's best allies? The West, like Germany, or East, like Russia, Serbia, and the Balkans in general?

Irrelevant, however I really felt an affinity to the right wing parties particularly when we had issues with expansion policies in neighboring Balkan nations. Nowadays, Chrisi Avgi with their nazi paraphernalia are embarrassing. Nea Demokratia is the right balance. Don't agree with pro-immigration and nationalization policies of syriza.

Greece's best interest may be syriza, loony left is playing chicken with the EU, but now the troika know their subversion policy is real and that they aren't bluffing. Already troika are suggesting writing down interest charges and terminating other austerity measures, that is a positive. In addition, the economic illiterate Tsipras is already going against the grain of the EU and suggesting agriculture sector trade with Russia (as per pre-sanctions).

As for allies, as much as we like to think, neither of our nations have many true allies, rather we are pawns that fill a necessity. However, the Hellenic Republic' EU allies such as France, Spain and we are liked in the Arab world. Best way forward is to play off all large power brokers with the Russian allegiance threat, that will provide more leverage within the EU. In addition, the Hellenic republic does have powerful diaspora communities that assist. Within the Balkans, aligning with growing Albania and promoting trade with Turkeys growing economy could be beneficial. Serbia, Republic Macedonia and the ex-Yugoslav nations have minor trade benefits, but in the scheme of the greater economy interests lie with large economic clout foreign countries such as China, Saudi and Russia investing $$ in infrastructure.

In conclusion, as all Balkanites know, it's not about friends, allies or being liked. Its about strategic importance and Balkan nations are all being used by the greater powers to enhance their own agenda.

What are your political leanings?
Who do you think Republic Macedonians allies are, what strategic direction should they be pursuing? Who are your true allies in the EU and do you think they have more of an affinity to Albania??

Sorry for going off topic, may take it offline if mods have an issue??

[fatso]

Tsipras is not a socialist but a true communist. He is an Athiest and has named his son after Che. He would not take an oath on the bible and wants to take the cross off the Greek flag.
These leftist are far more drastic than Golden Dawn.

[Philosopher]

Originally Posted by Poligiros

What are your political leanings?
Who do you think Republic Macedonians allies are, what strategic direction should they be pursuing? Who are your true allies in the EU and do you think they have more of an affinity to Albania??

In my analysis, there is more to this story than appears to the eye. The EU allowed SYRIZA to win this election. And I suspect for one or two reasons.

Either way, I do not see SYRIZA isolating Greece from the EU or the euro.

I see the situation in Greece becoming worse.

Originally Posted by Fatso

Tsipras is not a socialist but a true communist. He is an Athiest and has named his son after Che. He would not take an oath on the bible and wants to take the cross off the Greek flag.
These leftist are far more drastic than Golden Dawn.

Interesting observation. He took a civil oath, which was affront to the Orthodox church.

So three Greeks have chimed in, and only Amphipolis is pleased with the result.

SouthernNeighbor is pleased, I'm sure.

Spitfire, wherever the lad may be, is probably not pleased.

[Amphipolis]

Originally Posted by fatso

Tsipras is not a socialist but a true communist. He is an Athiest and has named his son after Che. He would not take an oath on the bible and wants to take the cross off the Greek flag.
These leftist are far more drastic than Golden Dawn.

So, you're probably in USA, Canada, Australia or another planet. Tsipras is NOT a communist or a radical leftist (besides the name of his party which seems to cause a common misunderstanding). This party belongs to Democratic Left, it is pro-European Union, pro-Euro Currency and is less radical than what Andreas Papandreou was when he became Prime Minister in 1981.

The Greek Left or the Communist Party (even during the Civil War) NEVER suggested a change of the Greek flag. Actually, I don't know anyone who has suggested such a thing.

[Volokin]

Church and state in Greece
A courteous distance
Jan 26th 2015, 15:56 BY B.C.
Timekeeper

GREECE'S new prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, made history within hours of his victory by informing the Archbishop of Athens, very politely, that clerical services would not be required for his swearing-in ceremony. An avowed atheist who has nonetheless made a point of dealing courteously with senior clergy, Mr Tsipras lost no time in making known that his oath of office would be a secular procedure. It was also explained that when the whole cabinet was sworn in, a more junior cleric (but not the archbishop) would be invited to assist those who wished to take a religious oath.

It's hard to overstate what a rupture this marks with the ceremonial culture of Greece. For as long as anybody can remember, every senior office-holder, from socialists to right-wing dictators, has assumed the post with a ritual involving Bibles, crosses and often holy water, sprinkled about with a sprig of basil. The opening words of the Greek constitution recall the theological formulas of the early church which predate by the Hellenic state by more than 1,300 years: "In the name of the holy, consubstantial and indivisible Trinity......"

This intertwining of religion and state dates from the earliest years of Greek independence, although the two things (Hellenic statehood and Orthodoxy) were not quite as entangled at the very beginning as you might think. Some of the protagonists of the Greek revolution were francophile secularists, and the Patriarch of Constantinople deplored the Greek uprising of 1821—although the Ottomans still hanged him because of the "disloyalty" of his flock.

Syriza is committed to disentangling church and state, but it won't be done hastily or confrontationally. Well before last night's victory, the Archbishop of Athens, Ieronymos, and Mr Tsipras were getting to know one another. Although most rites of passage in Mr Tsipras's life have been secular, the archbishop conducted a religious funeral for the politician's father. In contrast with his tub-thumping predecessor, Ieronymos is a political moderate who has condemned the ultra-rightists of Golden Dawn and stressed that the church is at the service of everybody, regardless of their race or metaphysical beliefs. That helps too.

Nikos Kosmidis, a Syriza activist from northern Greece who is also a devout Orthodox Christian, said his party leader's choice of a secular oath was, paradoxically, an act of respect for the church and its integrity. Rather than appropriating religious rituals for political ends, as previous leaders had done, he was "acknowledging the sanctity of church services and behaving with respect to all of us (practising Christians)...Instead of him taking a false oath, we will offer him our sincere prayers." Amen.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/erasm...d-state-greece

[Amphipolis]

Originally Posted by Philosopher

In my analysis, there is more to this story than appears to the eye. The EU allowed SYRIZA to win this election. And I suspect for one or two reasons.

EU cannot allow or not allow anyone from winning the election in Greece or any other country. What are you talking about?

[Philosopher]

Originally Posted by Amphipolis

EU cannot allow or not allow anyone from winning the election in Greece or any other country.

Officially, yes.

Originally Posted by Amphipolis

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about unofficially.

[fatso]

@ Amphipolis ,
this is a typical response from an Athenian. Fact is what I have stated is true. I frequent Greece every year and Greece's biggest problem is Athenians, northern and southern Greece where my parents are from, both overwhelmingly voted for the Democrats .Tsipras has flip flopped on many of his platform issues. He is Greece's final nail in their coffin. Time will tell

[Amphipolis]

Originally Posted by fatso

@ Amphipolis ,
this is a typical response from an Athenian. Fact is what I have stated is true. I frequent Greece every year and Greece's biggest problem is Athenians, northern and southern Greece where my parents are from, both overwhelmingly voted for the Democrats .Tsipras has flip flopped on many of his platform issues. He is Greece's final nail in their coffin. Time will tell

I'm a Thessalonian and the two things you stated and I pointed out are far from true. When you say Democrats, do you mean New Democracy?

Syriza was not a first party only in Athens, or the cities. Look at this map.