Yannis Elafros
ND,PASOK and SYRIZA are fighting over who is more memorialist,Germany’s role is ”exonerated”
ND,PASOK and SYRIZA entered a competition of Euro-memorandum submission,on the occasion of the publication of Angela Merkel’s memoirs and the reports she makes about the prime ministers of the critical period 2009-2015. The distinction seems to be won by Alexis Tsipras, for whom the “mother” has only good words in the book with the title… Freedom! Thus, the chancellor of the strongest state of the EU, who contributed the most to the imposition of the most exterminating anti-popular policy in Greece, is “washed out” by all the systemic parties, based on a book that is a blatant embellishment of Merkel’s and Germany’s politics.
“To avenge history for the lies with which the anti-SYRIZA front and Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself slandered the policies of the former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the then SYRIZA government”, says Koumoundourou, and believes that the people, based on her book… Merkel,will be “definitively convinced of what was the role of SYRIZA and Alexis Tsipras to save the country”! N. tried with trade union slogans. Romanos of the ND to remind Tsipras’ “go back madame Merkel”, while PASOK (which felt thrown because Merkel speaks in unflattering words about George Papandreou) blames the ND for not…voting the first memorandum! Media and pens friendly to SYRIZA gleefully display Merkel’s reports that “his (Al. Tsipras) victory is due to anger over the euro bailout programs… His predecessor Antonis Samaras had failed to fully implement the reforms agreed in the second bailout program ». Samaras’ weakness was due to the anger of the people and the labor movement. The fact that the Tsipras side is proud that it was more effective in passing the “reforms” (that is, the memoranda) is manifold revealing.
Merkel’s “hagiography” also has engaging points, such as the description of the former chancellor’s trip to Athens in January 2019 and dinner with Tsipras at a seafood restaurant. When she spoke to him about July 2015,a period when Greece’s stay in the eurozone was “on a razor’s edge”,Tsipras explained to her – according to what is written – that it was critically important to show the citizens in a convincing way that the new government had fatigued every leeway to get rid of the hated troika. when the other member states objected to this, it became clear that it was now an issue that basically concerned the attitude of the Greeks towards the euro. The majority of Greeks rejected the plan, but wanted the country to remain in the euro. This was shown by the re-election of SYRIZA in the early elections in September. That is, the leadership of SYRIZA used all the means to lead the world into submission, since allegedly “all room was exhausted”. It is no coincidence that Merkel is not talking about a butt-tumble, but about a “pre-planned strategy”.
This is also supported by merkel’s description of the first meeting with Tsipras in Berlin, where despite their disagreements, the impression she got was that Alexis Tsipras was wholly open to cooperation. The former chancellor even states that she had a firm position that Greece should not leave the euro and that is why after the meeting they sought with her partners a way “so that the new Greek government can fulfill the demands of the troika without having to violate election promises. Something like squaring the circle, that is.”
The conclusion is that from the beginning of the SYRIZA-ANEL government, the aim was to appease the great anti-memorandum movement and to lead the people to a disastrous compromise – submission. When even in the referendum with closed banks and terrorized by the bourgeoisie 61.3% voted “No”, then the solution was the government coup to cancel the popular vote. 2015 is haunting the political system and dozens of merkel-style memoirs are not enough to bury it…
Published in the newspaper Before (30.11.24)
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What are the potential long-term effects of the competition for legitimacy among Greek political parties stemming from Merkel’s narrative?
Interview between the Time.news editor and Political Analyst Dr.Elena Petrou
Editor: Welcome, Dr. Petrou! Thank you for joining us today.there’s been a significant shift in the political landscape following the publication of Angela Merkel’s memoirs. Could you elaborate on the implications of this competition among ND, PASOK, and SYRIZA to align themselves with Merkel’s views?
Dr. Petrou: Thank you for having me! Yes, the release of Merkel’s memoirs has sparked quite a controversy in Greece. It truly seems that the major political parties—ND (New Democracy),PASOK,and SYRIZA—are engaging in a sort of competition to extract legitimacy from Merkel’s narrative. Each party is trying to position itself as the most aligned with her portrayal of events during the Eurozone crisis. This is notably ironic, considering that Merkel and her policies are frequently enough blamed for Greece’s severe economic conditions.
Editor: It’s captivating how political narratives can shift over time. Tsipras seems to be gaining an edge in this contest, with Merkel’s memoir portraying him in a positive light. What does this say about the current political climate in Greece?
Dr. Petrou: Indeed, Alexis Tsipras appears to be the primary beneficiary of this memoir. Merkel refers to him affectionately as her “child”, which has lead to the impression that her administration had a more favorable view of SYRIZA than previously thought. This reframing allows Tsipras to revisit his time in power (2009-2015) with a sense of vindication,perhaps reshaping public opinion about his government’s policies. However, it also reflects a deeper political strategy among all parties to seek legitimacy by association with Merkel’s legacy, often sidelining the true consequences of her policies.
Editor: You mentioned the narrative of “exoneration” for Germany and Merkel’s role in the crisis. Why is this characterization significant in the context of Greece’s past and economic struggles?
Dr.Petrou: It’s crucial as the portrayal of Merkel as a benign figure can be seen as a strategic attempt to minimize the ramifications of the harsh austerity measures imposed on Greece. By ”washing out” her role, the systemic parties aim to shift the blame for the economic hardships away from German policies and onto Greek politicians and governance. This narrative is not only historically contentious but also dangerous, as it could dull public scrutiny of international financial interventions that have had severe real-world impacts on ordinary citizens.
Editor: And this competition among the parties seems to have a historical angle as well. What does this contest reveal about the ongoing relationship between Greece and its European partners?
Dr. Petrou: The ongoing contest illustrates the complexities of Greece’s relationship with Europe. It highlights a struggle to reclaim agency in the narrative of Greece’s economic crisis. Despite heavy critiques of EU-imposed policies, Greek parties are now finding themselves in a position where thay must navigate this complex relationship—a dance of aligning with more powerful Eurozone leaders like Merkel while contending with the legacy of foreign economic control. It’s a precarious balancing act that can reshape the political dynamics within Greece while also affecting public sentiment.
Editor: Very insightful,Dr. Petrou. Lastly, given these developments, what do you think the future holds for SYRIZA and the other parties in this political arena?
Dr. Petrou: The future will likely be shaped by how effectively these parties can capitalize on or counteract the narratives emerging from merkel’s memoirs. SYRIZA has a unique opportunity to position itself as a defender of the Greek populace while concurrently critiquing the broader European financial governance system. In contrast, ND and PASOK may need to reconcile their past actions and criticisms of SYRIZA with the softening of Merkel’s image. Ultimately, public perception will play a basic role as to whether this memoir-driven competition yields any lasting political advantage.
Editor: thank you, Dr. Petrou,for your thoughtful analysis. It will be fascinating to see how these dynamics unfold in the coming months.
Dr. Petrou: Thank you for having me! I look forward to observing these developments as well.