I occasionally receive e-mails from friends outside Greece who would like to see some of my articles in English (since as second and third generation Greeks) their Greek is not so good as to enable them to read and understand them properly…I have had specific requests for the two articles below and I tried hurriedly to translate them (submitting my apologies for possible errors in my English text)
The beginning of my…vindication?
Published in the Greek blogs on February 29 and March 1, 2012
Before the symbolic ink of my article published in the Greek blogs “dried“, reading in his electronic newsletter the following excerpt from a speech delivered in the House of Parliament by professor Venizelos Vice President and Minister of Finance in the "Coalition Government" (PASOK – New Democracy without the presence of the LAOS party which resigned from it) and referring to New Democracy’s Chairman Mr Samaras I was frankly surprised with what seemed to me as “the beginning of my… vindication! ...
Before the symbolic ink of my article published in the Greek blogs “dried“, reading in his electronic newsletter the following excerpt from a speech delivered in the House of Parliament by professor Venizelos Vice President and Minister of Finance in the "Coalition Government" (PASOK – New Democracy without the presence of the LAOS party which resigned from it) and referring to New Democracy’s Chairman Mr Samaras I was frankly surprised with what seemed to me as “the beginning of my… vindication! ...
"... The deeper cause for which our partners are skeptical and require prerequisite actions and new prerequisite actions and commitments and again more commitments is because they have no confidence in exactly what Mr. Samaras says…They are not convinced that his constant tergiversation, ambivalence, uncertainty, vagueness, continuous change of strategic lines and options can ensure the country's future .... "
May I remind you of my previous article entitled "Paranoid scenario of ingenuity & political cunning?" and invite you to take a look below?
"Paranoid scenario of ingenuity & political cunning?"
Published in the Greek blogs on February 15 and 16, 2012
That we live in epochs unprecedented in the political history of modern Greece which run a parallel course to the widespread fear of BANKRUPTCY is as undeniable a fact as is the undeniable distrust of Europeans towards the two (until the other day three leaders of the collaborating parties in the current Greek Coalition Government) who have been the protagonists in the country’s current dramatic economic reality ...
Last Sunday while the Greeks were reading in Sunday newspapers the letter signed by 5 University professors of Constitutional Law, in the Greek Parliament “constitutional order” was again being dealt a blow as State Police acting on Higher Orders denied Greek citizens the right to free assembly and protest at the historical Constitution Square. Subsequently there were clashes among violent demonstrators and police and Athens was, once more, engulfed on fire and stores, historic buildings as well as the concepts of law and order and protection of citizens were ...”burned”.
Simultaneously, inside the Parliament House 200 Members of Parliament were saying YES to all demands intensely made by the Europeans, our Lenders, and a grotesque political “happening” unfolded the like of which I personally have not lived before and unfortunately, since my grandparents and parents are no longer alive I cannot ask them if they had experienced anything similar to that...
In May 2010, when the 110 billion euro MEMORANDUM 1, signed between the PASOK Government of Greece and the troika (IMF, EU, ECB) came for vote in the Greek parliament Prime Minister Mr Papandreou demanded that ALL his deputies should vote affirmatively. On the other hand, New Democracy Leader Mr Samaras demanded that ALL his MPs should vote NO. Subsequently Mr Papandreou expelled from his party several MPs who voted NO and so did Mr Samaras for those of his MPs who voted YES. Ironically those PASOK MPs who voted NO and New Democracy MPs who voted YES going against their party Leaders indicated that they made the decision to vote according to their conscience and their adherence to the Greek Constitution.
That we live in epochs unprecedented in the political history of modern Greece which run a parallel course to the widespread fear of BANKRUPTCY is as undeniable a fact as is the undeniable distrust of Europeans towards the two (until the other day three leaders of the collaborating parties in the current Greek Coalition Government) who have been the protagonists in the country’s current dramatic economic reality ...
Last Sunday while the Greeks were reading in Sunday newspapers the letter signed by 5 University professors of Constitutional Law, in the Greek Parliament “constitutional order” was again being dealt a blow as State Police acting on Higher Orders denied Greek citizens the right to free assembly and protest at the historical Constitution Square. Subsequently there were clashes among violent demonstrators and police and Athens was, once more, engulfed on fire and stores, historic buildings as well as the concepts of law and order and protection of citizens were ...”burned”.
Simultaneously, inside the Parliament House 200 Members of Parliament were saying YES to all demands intensely made by the Europeans, our Lenders, and a grotesque political “happening” unfolded the like of which I personally have not lived before and unfortunately, since my grandparents and parents are no longer alive I cannot ask them if they had experienced anything similar to that...
In May 2010, when the 110 billion euro MEMORANDUM 1, signed between the PASOK Government of Greece and the troika (IMF, EU, ECB) came for vote in the Greek parliament Prime Minister Mr Papandreou demanded that ALL his deputies should vote affirmatively. On the other hand, New Democracy Leader Mr Samaras demanded that ALL his MPs should vote NO. Subsequently Mr Papandreou expelled from his party several MPs who voted NO and so did Mr Samaras for those of his MPs who voted YES. Ironically those PASOK MPs who voted NO and New Democracy MPs who voted YES going against their party Leaders indicated that they made the decision to vote according to their conscience and their adherence to the Greek Constitution.
Last Sunday Mr Papandreou, who is no longer Greece’s prime Minister but remains as Leader of the ruling PASOK party requested again a YES vote from his MPs, threatening again with expulsion those who would go against his demand, when the 130 billion euro MEMORANDUM 2 came to vote in the Greek parliament.
The unexpected turn occurred when New Democracy party Leader Mr Samaras requested a YES vote on the new memorandum and indicated that he would expel from the party those who would go against his demand (upturning his demand for a NO vote in May 2010).
In the process several PASOK party MPs voted NO on the Memorandum 2, a few dozen MPs from the New Democracy also voted NO or abstained from the process as “absentees” and 2 MPs of the LAOS
As expected the 3 party Leaders EXPELLED from their parties those MPs who did not follow their explicit orders and “voted by conscience!”
The dramatic element concerns Mr Samaras as the New Democracy party Leader. While in May 2010 he expelled MPs from his party for voting YES (accepting a MEMORANDUM he had termed as totally unacceptable) while he had demanded a NO vote, in February 2012 he expelled MPs for voting NO (rejecting the MEMORANUM) while he demanded a YES vote (accepting the MEMORANDUM!)
The comic element concerns Mr Karatzaferis Leader of the LAOS party and his decision to expel 2 MPs (who had held Ministerial posts for a short time in the current Greek 3-party COALITION Government) who voted YES when he had explicitly demanded a NO vote having made, as Mr Samaras, a 180 degree turn from his demand for a YES vote in May 2010!
After what happened yesterday and today Europeans have asked the remaining two HEADS of the Collaborating parties in the Coalition Government, namely Mr Papandreou and Mr Samaras, to submit an official written (scripta manent) and unequivocal commitment stating that they will respect and execute everything that was voted by the Parliament majority last Sunday (as well as all previous commitments) that they will adhere to the letter and to the last detail no matter which Party may win the next election currently planned for coming April or beginning of May (or whenever the troika allows the Greeks to hold National Elections...)
And suddenly, as he has done in similar instances since May 2010, Mr Samaras abandoned his original position and signed the binding letter demanding by the Euro-Leaders (and just as suddenly the political gossip in Greece and abroad is that he may be the next Prime Minister ...)
Today’s written COMMITMENTS are signed by the current party Leaders namely Mr Papandreou for PASOK and Mr Samaras for the dramatically decimated in numbers of MPs "New Democracy” and they manage to avoid uncontrolled bankruptcy or a credit event in March (since with the backing of Euro-Leaders the urgently needed 14.5 billion euros will be found) and the 130 billion euro new (second) bailout Memorandum as well as the PSI will close after the announcement and completion of the elections, when done ...)
Henceforth the title of this article which poses a “hot” question containing elements of paranoia (excessive suspiciousness), along with a possible "ingenious and politically cunning scenario!..”
While in a few weeks the PASOK party will elect a new Chairman who, as indications are, will probably be professor Venizelos, what could stop him from pointing his finger to Mr Samaras telling him “you're tied hand and foot” and you’d better not dare speak to the Greeks for possible renegotiations with our Lenders since by signing the letters to our lenders with Mr Papandreou you gave up such right, but I as the new Leader of PASOK, have all the right to ask the Euro-Leaders for some changes, albeit small, but useful for their country, and give hope to the Greeks who need it!
In the forthcoming spring 2012 elections under this scenario, who will be the Party Leader that will have the upper hand?
And suddenly, as he has done in similar instances since May 2010, Mr Samaras abandoned his original position and signed the binding letter demanding by the Euro-Leaders (and just as suddenly the political gossip in Greece and abroad is that he may be the next Prime Minister ...)
Today’s written COMMITMENTS are signed by the current party Leaders namely Mr Papandreou for PASOK and Mr Samaras for the dramatically decimated in numbers of MPs "New Democracy” and they manage to avoid uncontrolled bankruptcy or a credit event in March (since with the backing of Euro-Leaders the urgently needed 14.5 billion euros will be found) and the 130 billion euro new (second) bailout Memorandum as well as the PSI will close after the announcement and completion of the elections, when done ...)
Henceforth the title of this article which poses a “hot” question containing elements of paranoia (excessive suspiciousness), along with a possible "ingenious and politically cunning scenario!..”
While in a few weeks the PASOK party will elect a new Chairman who, as indications are, will probably be professor Venizelos, what could stop him from pointing his finger to Mr Samaras telling him “you're tied hand and foot” and you’d better not dare speak to the Greeks for possible renegotiations with our Lenders since by signing the letters to our lenders with Mr Papandreou you gave up such right, but I as the new Leader of PASOK, have all the right to ask the Euro-Leaders for some changes, albeit small, but useful for their country, and give hope to the Greeks who need it!
In the forthcoming spring 2012 elections under this scenario, who will be the Party Leader that will have the upper hand?
