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Anastasia Balezdrova

The unclear position of the Greek government to Greece’s European partners had raised concerns about its European future immediately after the elections on 25 January. Two demonstrations in support of the cabinet followed and some of the participants in the second did not hesitate to burn the EU flag outside the parliament building in Athens.

This was not the first time that the European flag has been burnt in Greece but the risky actions of the cabinet that are posing a real danger to the country to end up outside the euro zone have rung the bell of pro-European Greeks. They will also organise a demonstration that will take place in Syntagma Square at 5:00 pm this Sunday under the slogan, "Greece must remain in the European Union. Come with the European flag in hand to send a clear message".

The diverse mixture of citizens who supported the government, as well as the slogans, many of which bordered on outright anti-European attitudes, had provoked many reactions on the Greek social networks.

Facebook and Twitter "buzzed" until late into the night in anticipation of the outcome of the Eurogroup meeting. User comments are indicative of the moods provoked by the demonstrations:

"When they granted the funds from the "Delors and Santer packages", the Integrated Mediterranean Programmes, the Common Strategic Framework and the National Strategic Reference Framework nobody burnt Greek flags".

"The EU is the Mecca of neoliberalism for the supporters of the Left... For neoliberals it is a continuation of the USSR... Others believe that Europe must acquire a human face... But comparing Europe with the rest of the continents occurs to no one.

Generations have grown up without wars and in the general laziness of prosperity achieved through loans and grants. This is the reason for the confusion in their heads."

"Regardless of whether an agreement will be reached or not, how do they intend to deal with all the false expectations and all this fanaticism, if they do not nourish it with even greater fanaticism? These vicious circles do not break up in a good way."

"It is one thing to hear, read and see the rise of nationalism in other parts of the world. You say, "What of it? This will not happen here. We have learnt from history.

And it is quite different to see the monster growing up in your own home, standing up, ready to destroy everything and to burn the flag of your country, Europe.

It is shocking indeed, when you realize that all this has been created under your nose, slowly and consistently. That it has been intentionally stimulated and fostered, and continues to be, by all sorts of populists."

"The vulgar fawning on the part of the media to the discontented continues exactly from where it remained when the last Golden Dawner left the top of Syntagma Square three and a half years ago.

The first movement of protests in the squares had brought Golden Dawn into parliament. The second will make it a major opposition party. History watches all of us. One by one."