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Antonis Samaras’ cabinet will not survive even with the support of PASOK of Evangelos Venizelos

16 February 2012 / 10:02:18  GRReporter
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I think it is quite clear: The threat is associated with the intensification of extremes. Conditions are forming, under which we can have a left, devoid of common sense; which does not see the real problems and speculates with them. We already have such a left, supported by 30% of the people. At the same time, we have a very strong extreme right, involving even neo-fascist forces like the Golden Dawn party and a weakening bourgeois bloc. In the 1980s, there was the term "constitutional arc" in Italy, which included all parties taking the rules of the so-called bourgeois democracy. It involved all parties that supported the democratic principles of action. It also involved Social Democrats and Communists. All other far left and far right formations and far-left terrorism were on the opposite side. If we imagine such a "constitutional arc" in Greece, the risk of its weakening is very serious. At the same time, the forces that are not interested in democracy, free elections, or anything other than the promotion of their ideas in any way will strengthen. This is very dangerous and I think it is very likely to happen.

If Greece fails, these forces may become a majority and then, a very dangerous mixture will form across Europe. It will create conditions for the strengthening of these trends in the Balkan and Mediterranean countries.

What caused the riots and vandalism during the protests last Sunday? Is there any way to eradicate this phenomenon from Greek society?

Let me first clarify that thousands of frustrated and frightened people were out in the centre of Athens on Sunday. Over the past two years, they have seen how their incomes have dropped, while at the same time no bottom of this barrel has been set. Furthermore, they hear that it is very likely their incomes will be further reduced or even disappear completely. On the other hand, these same people do not see that the rejection of the new loan will automatically decrease their incomes and living standard. This is one thing.

There is another group of people, who did not go to protest.  Although they see their incomes falling, they realize that the complete rejection of the proposals of the supervisory Three would not just restrict the income but make it disappear.

There is also a third group. These are people, who oppose the civic culture, the civilized way of resolving disputes through social agreement. They are the ones who caused the riots. It is not a coincidence that they destroy mostly buildings occupied by banks, large shopping centres or buildings that represent a bourgeois Greece. They basically reject this picture and destroy it. Marfin Bank, which they also burned in 2010, was housed in a similar building in neoclassical style as well as Attikon cinema. Actually, this is hatred of everything that indicates or is reminiscent of bourgeois culture in Greece. This view is not dominant. But those, who support it, are well organized and feel free to attack buildings or people, whatever they find.

What had an impact on me the last two days was that there were posts in the social networks like "several buildings burned, so what? They are destroying our lives," by people from whom I did not expect it.

Yes, it is common in Greece. There are people, who say they will not pay taxes, because people with higher social position do not. The same applies to the observance of laws, etc. The trend not to respect the laws, because the more powerful ones do not comply with them has dominated in the country for years. Actually, the more powerful ones do not really respect them, that's a fact. They often do not pay taxes and are subject to corruption. What remained unclear in the Greek society is that it is not necessary to put a benchmark to decide whether to do something. We have to judge ourselves whether our action is right or wrong. For ultimately, we will have neither quality health care, nor education, nor other social services if no one pays taxes. Greece lacks the Renaissance perception of giving some of my own interests in order to keep the core of what I want. In Greece, we have the principle "all or nothing." We want everything, and as this is impossible in many cases because there is no bourgeois society that can satisfy all the desires, we reach the level of nihilism and violence. Because I cannot have everything, I destroy it.

Do you think the Greeks are aware of the consequences if the parliament had not voted on the new loan agreement?

Yes, they are aware. They just no longer believe that the return of Greece to the drachma would be worse than what they are going through at present. This is because no one has convinced them that the sacrifices they are making now are the last ones and that it will not be necessary to make others. Furthermore, there are also many so-called and actual scientists and political factors that express the so-called "party of the drachma." They say there is no salvation in the eurozone, that we will be subjected to increasing pressure; that the measures proposed are deepening the recession, and therefore, we will never be able to align our budget, so it is better to return to the drachma. The opposite opinion is that the failure of Greece and return to the drachma would mean a return to the situation, in which Bulgaria was in the early 1990s - with empty shelves in shops, without fuel, etc. These people do not see this. Greece needs to avoid this scenario, although there are forces that resist.

Tags: PoliticsSocietyGeorge SiakandarisCrisisPolitical systemEuro scepticismFailureElections
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