Does this mean no one expects Tsipras to be around next year? or does this mean something else? What does this photo mean to you?
The Tsipras political contagion
The Greek prime minister's anti-austerity plebiscite victory adds to his status as the global left's new poster boy.
A day after Alexis Tispras’ landslide referendum victory on Sunday, the Greek leader received an unexpected letter from Cuba.
“Your country, especially your courage in the current
situation, arouses admiration among the Latin American and Caribbean
peoples of this hemisphere on witnessing how Greece, against external
aggression, defends its identity and culture,” Fidel Castro wrote. “We
wish you, esteemed compañero Alexis Tsipras, the greatest of success.”
The one-page typewritten letter, which
was signed “fraternally” by hand, underscores how Tsipras has inspired
the international left like no European leader in decades. By framing
Greece’s standoff with its creditors as a David-versus-Goliath struggle
between the common man and capitalism, Tsipras has won the hearts of
Marxist sympathizers the world over.
Eurozone leaders gave Tsipras an ultimatum at a summit
Tuesday to come up with a long-term reform plan by the end of the week,
or face expulsion from the euro at a full EU summit to be convened for
Sunday. Whether he manages to keep Greece in the euro or not, Tsipras’
popularity is unlikely to wane anytime soon. Syriza’s overwhelming
victory in the austerity referendum, in which the No vote garnered over
60 percent, only adds to his legend. In calling the referendum and
taking a clear position, he put his own political future on the line.
The result was a clear endorsement of his course.
For better or worse, Tsipras’ populist leftism resonates
at a time when many Europeans continue to struggle with economic
hardship. Consider Spain, where Podemos, a clone of Tsipras’ Syriza
party, has surged in the polls. Spain is often cited by the defenders of
austerity as a success story because of its efforts to push through
difficult reform. Yet unemployment remains high and many Spaniards see
no way out of their malaise.
After years of trying to contain the financial impact of a
possible Grexit, Europe now has to worry about political contagion. A
central question is whether Tsipras poses a greater threat to the
political establishment inside the European tent, or outside. Europe
has no shortage of fringe parties on both the right and the left. What
distinguishes Syriza is that it’s actually in power.
What concerns the centrist parties that dominate European
politics is that Tsipras, a skilled orator with boyish good looks, is
fast becoming Europe’s answer to Hugo Chávez.
Poster boy of the left
“These fears are justified,” said Yannis Koutsomitis, a
Greek political analyst. “This is the argument for Germany, the eastern
countries and other hardliners to adopt a more constructive approach in
the coming days and not send Greece over the cliff.”
Just this week, a journalist union close to Syriza called for an inquiry into reporters who supported the Yes campaign.
A Greek judge is now looking into allegations of
“manipulation.” This follows similar attacks by leading Syriza
officials, including Parliament President Zoe Konstantopoulou, on the
media.
Syriza hasn’t shied from pandering to Greek nationalism,
either. It invited the right-wing Independent Greeks to join its
coalition in January. Last week, many of the posters urging Greeks to
vote “Oxi,” or No, in the referendum, featured the blue and white of the
Greek flag instead of Syriza’s trademark red. The move was seen as an
attempt by the party to reach beyond its traditional leftist base, a
tactic that clearly worked.
The two parties that divided power in Greece until Syriza
was elected — the conservative New Democracy and left-of-center Pasok —
have been discredited by the crisis.
They are blamed for the culture of clientelism and
corruption that many see at the root of Greece’s woes. That means there
is no major opposition party left standing to check Syriza’s power.
The U.S. and a number of European governments worry that a
Greek euro exit would push Athens deeper into the arms of Russia’s
Vladimir Putin, or worse. “No one wants to have a failed state in
southeastern Europe,” Koutsomitis says.
The coming days are crucial.
For now, it looks like Tsipras wants to find a compromise with Europe.
Euclid Tsakalotos, Greece’s new finance minister, also
struck a more conciliatory tone with his colleagues at a Eurogroup
meeting on Tuesday. Under his arm, he carried a notepad with the words
“no triumphalism” scribbled on it. The more radical wing of Syriza, led
by Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, would welcome Grexit, however.
They see it as a way to regain Greece’s sovereignty.
Staying in the eurozone
Tsipras knows that a majority of Greeks remain opposed to
leaving the euro, which would only worsen the country’s economic
straits, at least in the medium-term. “We are determined not to have a
clash with Europe,” Tsipras said in a speech to the European parliament
in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
The question is whether Tsipras is only going through the motions or is willing to pay the price for a deal.
Most Greeks understand that additional aid will be
conditional on continued austerity. But the plans under discussion this
week would keep Greece in a program for years.
With government spending limited by the rescue framework,
Tsipras would have little flexibility to spend on the social programs he
has promised voters.
The left’s new poster boy could quickly become its pariah.
No comments:
Post a Comment