Bruised and confused: why Greeks voted against the gods of Europe

Guardian UK ^ | 31 May 2014 | Elena Panaritis

[Lorianne]

In last month's elections a majority of Greeks – now routinely depicted by the gods of Europe as lousy managers and born tax-evaders – reacted by shunning the pro-EU parties. They made the anti-European and populist left and far-right parties the rising stars at the polls. Even Syriza, the radical (though not so radical any more) leftwing party that secured 26.6% of the votes did not do as well as expected. Once very anti-austerity and ready to go up against Brussels, it has since watered down its tactics.

Analysing the results via ideological labels is perhaps less important than seeing beyond the political shake-up to the bruised reputation of a very proud people. The Greeks now often feel like unwanted guests at the EU table.

Add to this feeling the economic realities: the imposed never-ending austerity, GDP reduced by 30% and nearly wiping out the middle class, and the grim future Greek people face with youth unemployment running at over 60% (28% overall).

From the start of Greece's economic crisis, most of the richer EU members were emotional and openly angry, blaming the Greeks for all their woes when in fact it wasn't a problem of household private deficit and overspending, but of public sector mismanagement and bad governance.

[Rusty0604]

“The crisis was the end result of an overly bureaucratic and cumbersome system that became even more bureaucratic because of additional European directives.”

Big over-regulated government and total control by over- paid public employees caused a lot of their problems. But the private sector thought it was great too, with early paid retirements and all the social benefits.

California is doing exactly the same things Greece did.

[Gay State Conservative]

"populist left and far-right parties"

In the eyes of the Guardian that means Mao Tse Tung and Sarah Palin.