18 replies to this topic

[Time_Traveller]

Greece votes in parliamentary elections

Greeks are voting in parliamentary polls, with the country's two mainstream parties expected to lose support to anti-austerity candidates.

From http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-17972758

[Lux]

The entire question hinges on whether the pro-austerity parties will retain their majority, or if Greece will go into a phase when no government can be formed due to the far left and the far right holding a majority together.

[MarcZ]

Greek Elections finish in about an hour, then the results should begin coming in.

This is the more interesting of today's two elections, and arguably the more important one.

Edited by MarcZ, 06 May 2012 - 03:12 PM.

[MarcZ]

Ok got some breaking news exit polls are suggesting that New Democracy is under performing at between 17-20% of the vote, the Radical Left Wing coalition is coming in unprecedentedly strong at between 15 to 19% of the vote, PASOK will most likely take third at 14-17%, while the neo-nazi Golden Dawn everyone has been worried about is also out performing the expected 5% at anywhere from 6-9%. The majority parties are not going to have anywhere near the votes to form a coalition. At best they will probably carry 35%. There are other parties as well but its unclear how they are doing from early reports. This is going to mean chaos in parliament and most likely another election soon.

[Time_Traveller]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-17975370

[United]

This has been a most exiting election indeed, I did not think the golden dawn would get this many vots but I am delighted at the fact. However, it seems that, as Lux were speculating about, the establishment parties will be able to form government

[MarcZ]

This has been a most exiting election indeed, I did not think the golden dawn would get this many vots but I am delighted at the fact. However, it seems that, as Lux were speculating about, the establishment parties will be able to form government

I don't think there was any doubt about them not forming a government, so the chaos will continue and we will probably be here talking about another election in a months time. As for the Golden Dawn, I am not thrilled by their rise at all, their views on homosexuals are regressive as can be, not to mention that their views on immigrants (legitimate ones as well) being put in working camps and denied food is absurd as well. You've got to remember a lot of people voted for them in protest we shall see if their numbers maintain for the next election in a month's time, also we shall see how long the banks and Germany wait before moving to kick Greece out of the Euro and the almost certain hard-default Greece is facing now. (Let's get that over with already)

[Lux]

In Greece, the largest party automatically receives around 50 seats. No seats are allocated yet, but it is possible to guess how much seats will be allocated.

I think Golden Dawn has got unjustifiable much coverage recently. Yes, they came in. But the real news are that the left left of the socialists managed to gain 25-30% of the votes and almost became as large as the austerity bloc. 8% is still quite much for an openly nazi party, but the polarisation is very much slanting towards the left side of the spectrum for the moment (even if we count ANEL votes as a part of the right).

[United]

This has been a most exiting election indeed, I did not think the golden dawn would get this many vots but I am delighted at the fact. However, it seems that, as Lux were speculating about, the establishment parties will be able to form government

I don't think there was any doubt about them not forming a government, so the chaos will continue and we will probably be here talking about another election in a months time. As for the Golden Dawn, I am not thrilled by their rise at all, their views on homosexuals are regressive as can be, not to mention that their views on immigrants (legitimate ones as well) being put in working camps and denied food is absurd as well. You've got to remember a lot of people voted for them in protest we shall see if their numbers maintain for the next election in a month's time, also we shall see how long the banks and Germany wait before moving to kick Greece out of the Euro and the almost certain hard-default Greece is facing now. (Let's get that over with already)

I agree that their view on homosexuals are to harsh and I am mostly liberal howards gays as their small number does not hurt society much. However, the golden dawn is a good thing according to me because they are radical and a giant itch for the establishment. I hope no government can form and a re-election is to be seen soon.

Regarding the situation for non-white immigrants in Greece, it is regrettable that it is worse now. But the blame, according to me, is not to fall on the golden dawn and its grass-root members who are concerned, normal Greek people. The blame falls on the mass media, Jewish banks and lobbyists and politicians who arranged for them to arrive with no regards to such an experiment never being tried or to the will of the Greek people.

In Greece, the largest party automatically receives around 50 seats. No seats are allocated yet, but it is possible to guess how much seats will be allocated.

I think Golden Dawn has got unjustifiable much coverage recently. Yes, they came in. But the real news are that the left left of the socialists managed to gain 25-30% of the votes and almost became as large as the austerity bloc. 8% is still quite much for an openly nazi party, but the polarisation is very much slanting towards the left side of the spectrum for the moment (even if we count ANEL votes as a part of the right).

Yes, the winner gets 50 bonus seats witch is good and bad, but since the conservatives won by alittle on the socialists it will still be hard to form a government, wont it? If the socialists won those 50 seats they could probably have ruled for the next period.

However, you are wrong about golden dawn being "nazi" or even less openly national socialist. They call them self nationalist and, whilst radical, are not to be called "nazi" unless you oppose them and want to push them down without using proper arguments. Communist/media/mainsteam-politician -style.

Furthermore, could you please elaborate on the topic of the radical left. I understand the 25-30% stated is split by 2 or more parties? What has been their rhetoric strategy before the election?

Edited by United, 08 May 2012 - 10:26 AM.

[Lux]

Syriza is the most popular left-wing party. They can probably cooperate with DIMAR, though cooperation with the KKE (stalinists like the Communist Party in Sweden) is probably very difficult given KKE's authoritarianism.

Golden Dawn is not comparable with the Swedish Democrats or the Popular Orthodox Rally. They are more like the Party of the Swedes, which is formerly known as the National Socialist Front. The important thing is what a party is espousing, not what it calls itself. I mean, the Liberal Democrats in Russia are Greater Russian nationalists.

[MarcZ]

Sorry to be a forum necrophile but time to resurrect the discussion here at this thread, as it looks like talks have broken down in Athens and they are most likely going to call another election for the middle of June sometime on Sunday. Looks like Syriza may become the first place party this time, and if that happens there is no way Greece will meet its austerity obligations and default and exit will become inevitable.

[Time_Traveller]

Greece votes in crucial election

The polls have opened in Greece for crucial elections which could determine the country's future in the eurozone.

The main contenders, the right-wing New Democracy and left-wing Syriza, are at odds over whether broadly to stick with the tough EU bailout deal, or reject it and boost social spending.

From http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-18472595

I hope Greece does go out of the Euro and end up having there Drachma back as there currency.

Edited by Time_Traveller, 17 June 2012 - 08:46 AM.

[MarcZ]

Bappity boopity. Waiting on the results...

[MarcZ]

First exit polls show ND about 27.5% - 30.5%, and Syriza 27%-30% which means it's too close to call until final results. Perhaps more importantly for a pro-bailout coalition Pasok is only showing between 10%-12% a ND coalition could come down to Pasok's showing. Also interestingly Golden Dawn looks like it has maintained or increased its share of the vote 6%-7.5%.

[Time_Traveller]

Antonis Samaras begins Greece 'national coalition' talks

The leader of the party that narrowly won Greece's election has begun talks to form a coalition, saying he wants to forge a "national consensus".

Antonis Samaras, of the New Democracy party, on Monday met President Karolos Papoulias to be given a formal mandate.

Mr Samaras said he would seek changes in the terms of a bailout agreement reached with the EU and IMF.

The second-place Syriza party has rejected the terms of the bailout and said it would form the opposition.



From http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-18490930

Edited by Time_Traveller, 18 June 2012 - 11:22 AM.

[MarcZ]

There is certainly no national consensus in Greece.

[Italian Ufo]

All I care for Greece to get out of the Euro so that other countries will collapse too.
I am just fucking tired of pepole starving in the name of the banks and of poorer countries who feed the giant in this Europe of two speed.
People are starving, they are killing our dream, we can not get at the end of the month and afford cures.
What for?

[Time_Traveller]

Greece election: Coalition talks set to resume

Talks between three parties on forming a new coalition government in Greece are set to resume on Wednesday, amid intense international pressure.

New Democracy, the conservative winner of Sunday's election, is expected to lead the new government.

Pasok leader Evangelos Venizelos said a government could be formed by midday (09:00 GMT) on Wednesday.



From http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-18515185

Edited by Time_Traveller, 20 June 2012 - 08:55 AM.

[Time_Traveller]

Antonis Samaras offers 'hope' as new Greece prime minister

Antonis Samaras has vowed to "give hope" to the Greek people, moments after being sworn in as prime minister.

His party, New Democracy, has forged a coalition with the Socialists (Pasok) and the smaller Democratic Left.

The deal ends weeks of uncertainty in Greece. An inconclusive election on 6 May raised fears Greece could leave the eurozone and trigger a wider crisis.

Video at http://www.bbc.co.uk.../world-18524252

Edited by Time_Traveller, 20 June 2012 - 06:53 PM.