What’s happening in Greece? News from the front lines of Europe!

Larry Kummer, Editor

12 years ago

Summary: The euro crisis began 30 months ago. The cheers for each new solution proved unwarranted. Likewise the fears of the skeptics, as the periphery nations have held together under horrific stress. So far. Here we look at public sentiment in Greece. See the For More Information section at the end.

My guess: Europe’s leaders continue their program of austerity plus government loans. They see this as penicillin. In fact it’s a toxic brew of hemlock and morphine. Europe’s economies will continue to deteriorate, but the political situation will remain stable until social cohesion breaks somewhere.

This poll gives us a status report from Greece. Even there a majority remain loyal to the great unification project (which US conservatives falsely describe as forced upon Europe by its elites). But as the depression deepens, an increasingly number of defectors give their loyalty to extreme parties. Greece and Spain are the fault lines; watch there for something to snap.

From Sky News of Greece (ΣΚΑΪ), 17 September 2012 — via Google Translate:

54% of respondents stated that they do not trust any party.

… With regard to the Memorandum, 68% opposed the Memorandum and 21% favor it.

9% believes that compared with a year ago, our country’s position in the world became stronger. The corresponding rate in May was 5%. In contrast, 60% consider that the position of our country became weaker, while 31% believe the country’s position remained the same. Still, 46% considered unlikely to bankrupt the Greek state in the next 12 months compared to 47% in July and 38% in May.

… About the European Union, 52% declare it positively and 44% negatively.

… Also, 67% of respondents have a positive opinion about the euro, compared to 72% in July and 77% in May. Negative opinions about the common currency increased to 31% in September, from 26% in July and 22% in May.

… The survey was conducted during the period 6-11 September 2012.

I don’t know what this graph is measures, but the trend can’t be good. PASOK is the first listed; Golden Dawn the last. Perhaps this will be biblical: the last will be first.