A people betrayed

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/07/greeks-choose-between-beach-and-ballot-in-first-post-debt-bailout-poll

Landslide victory for centre-right New Democracy.

In January of 2015, the people of Greece went to the polls and elected Syriza under its leader Alexis Tsipras. This was against the background of an economy crippled by austerity inflicted under the ruling coalition of New Democracy and its partner Pasok. The austerity measures imposed on Greece came from European bankers, the IMF, the German government and from Brussels and had been in place for many months. One bail out loan after another attracted even more severe austerity measures driving the Greek economy even further into the ground. The arrival of Syriza and Alexis Tsipras, promised an end to this ongoing lunacy imposed by he TROIKA , and within hours of Syriza winning the election, Alexis Tsipras said, ""The verdict of the Greek people ends, beyond any doubt, the vicious circle of austerity in our country," Now, less than 5 years later, the Syriza party and its leader Alexis Tsipras, have been routed in another general election by the New Democracy party under the leadership of  Kyriakos Mitsotakis. It is not difficult to understand, how this emphatic reversal of of political fortune and the the landslide victory of New Democracy  who now hold an overall majority in the Hellenic Parliament, was brought about. Essentially, the Greek people were betrayed by Tsipras and Syriza, who after so much promise in the initial stages of their government, eventually caved in to the blackmail and intimidation of the TROIKA, the IMF, the European bankers in Brussels and not least by Angela Merkel and the German government. At the time, a "negotiator" from the EU side stated "Of course we cant allow these Greek people to win (the negotiations) as this would be bad for Germany, Holland and others.If they (the Greek government) are allowed to win, then other governments Spain and Italy for example would be queuing up to renegotiate their bail outs".

Inch by inch, the resolve of Syriza to resist this intimidation was worn away as the German led EU pushed on towards complete domination. Over time, the austerity in Greece continued with even more severe measures destroying the will of the government to stand firm.The Greek people endured the continuing hardships as Tsipras gave even more concessions. Yanis Varoufakis the Syriza Finance Minister and others resigned as more and more concessions were granted to Europe. The essential truth is that the people of Greece were betrayed by Tsipras and the party he leads. The phrase from Tsipras "The verdict of the Greek people ends, beyond any doubt, the vicious circle of austerity in our country", rings very hollow today as the realisation of the futility of the last 4 years of sacrifice has gained nothing for the Greek people who have now deserted the party and the man who promised so much. He promised mountains but delivered mole hills. It should come as no surprise that the government of Greece is now New Democracy, or that Alexis Tsipras remains in the Hellenic Parliament. The perks of position again outweigh the principles that were the drive behind the initial election.We must all draw lessons from that which has taken place in Greece.