Sunday, 18 January 2015

Greece´s anxiety

The Greek general elections will be held in a week. But the matter seems to have disappeared from the European news. Or, it will be an important event. The outcome of the elections might have a serious impact on the European agenda and be at the centre of the policy dialogue for a few months.

Syriza, the left wing party that is against the current austerity programme, is very much ahead in the most recent polls. It might not have enough votes to put together a government after the elections. But it will come out of the elections with a much stronger voice.

All this will lead at least to political instability in Greece. The country needs just the opposite: stability, to be able to attract new loans and new investments. And also to stop the ongoing social mistrust and fear. Because of the reigning atmosphere, many Greeks are taking their money out of the banks and keeping it under the mattress. The banking system is under serious stress as a result. And we can expect more anxiety as days go on. 

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