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One week after the elections, which led to the creation of the coalition government of SYRIZA and the Independent Greeks, a confrontation with the Eurozone and a fragile balance with the United States and in domestic politics have already emerged. This is what journalist Kostis Papadiochos claims in his analysis for Kathimerini.

As the term of the current rescue package expires on February 28, Alexis Tsipras’ relations with the partners are most problematic: it is unclear whether a compromise can be reached to extend it. But the news of the last few days has been disturbing. Berlin has reacted to the first noises coming from Athens with a stiffened position. It does not only seek a freeze on SYRIZA’s election promises, which have been brushed up during the last days by the new ministers, but a resumption of the negotiations with the troika, denounced by the government.

It is obvious that the two sides are taking contrary positions and a compromise seems elusive.

The final position of Athens will only take shape after Tsipras’ meetings, first with his Italian counterpart, Matteo Renzi, and then – before the EU summit on 12 February – with French President Francois Hollande and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

It should be noted that European partners have reacted negatively to statements made by SYRIZA cabinet members demanding the cancellation of memorandum laws and the privatisation programme. But it is clear that the government’s framework and timetable will be laid down in Tsipras’ programme statement. Nevertheless, until the latter is made public, it can undergo a certain amount of revisions.

As only 15 days remain to the crucial eurogroup meeting, finance minister Yannis Varoufakis’ claim that Athens is not planning to absorb the € 7.2 billion of outstanding tranches suggests that a quick agreement with the partners is not viewed as likely by the government. Scenarios have been tossed around that Athens has secretly been groping about for sources of new short-term loans.

However, SYRIZA´s orientation towards a ‘multidimensional’ foreign policy will certainly affect relations with the US. Washington has declared it would like to see a turn of the eurozone towards development policies taking place, but the emerging distancing of the Greek government from other EU member states on Russia-related issues will certainly cause friction.

Furthermore, as already mentioned, Tsipras’ election victory will lead to a flimsy balance in domestic politics. Firstly, in terms of the relations within the government itself, secondly, in the government's dealings with the opposition, and lastly inside PASOK and probably inside New Democracy as well.

After the elections, Tsipras has emerged as the undisputed mastermind within SYRIZA although it will be difficult for him to ignore the Independent Greeks on the one hand, as his government partner, and on the other, the positions of SYRIZA’s firmer left wing, the Left Platform, which enjoys support in the party’s parliamentary group.

There remains the question of what kind of relationship Tsipras will have with the opposition parties. He has been trying to achieve a broader agreement in two – already visible – ways. Firstly, by proposing Dimitris Avramopoulos as the next president of the republic and, secondly, by setting up a "national negotiating team" featuring figures of public authority rather than party hacks. Tsipras spoke about this team at the meeting with Potami leader, Stavros Theodorakis. However, a potential strategic confrontation with the EU will see Tsipras utterly isolated from all pro-European parties; it will also scupper these initiatives.

Besides, the election results will affect the state of PASOK, and possibly of New Democracy. Evangelos Venizelos has already announced his stepping down in May, which will probably trigger a generational fracas over his post. Fofi Gennimata will face either Nikos Androulakis or Kyriakos Pierakakis. Despite Antonis Samaras’s pleas for unification, New Democracy is experiencing a lot of internal tension: substantial leadership changes in it as soon as the country stabilizes are not excluded.