Alexis Tsipras, Leader of the radical left opposition SYRIZA. Source: Polisblog.it
The Greek election is just around the corner and Europe’s eyes are set on the radical left opposition, Syriza, that is poised to win it.
Contrary to growing belief that the leftist party and its young leader, Alexis Tsipras, could end austerity in both Greece and Europe, an unsuccessful Syriza government could not only bring the country to its knees but also mean the end of left-wing politics in Greece.
It might be true that Alexis Tsipras has given hope to a worn out nation, but it has been the wrong kind of hope. Feeding on people’s shock and disillusionment his party enjoyed a UKIP-like surge making promises about changing the country and the continent.
These promises (higher wages, lower taxes, a bigger public sector, complete disregard towards European and international institutions) are not new. They are what the late Andreas Papandreou ruled for 11 years with and the prosperity of his era is what people are hoping for.
But times are different – money has run out and Europe will not change overnight.
If elected on Sunday, Syriza will be inheriting a financially destroyed country and an exhausted, ungovernable public who, immersed in a hatred for those in power, are waiting for a miracle.
Tsipras will be balancing between a demanding Europe that will not hesitate to use Greece as a guinea pig and the gargantuan challenge of managing an internally inconsistent party whose candidates, a cocktail of Marxists, centrists and the odd rightwing nationalist, publicly contradict each other on fundamental principles.
Fighting their campaign on emotional grounds they have so far managed to get away with this ideological chaos and lack of uniform policies.But what will happen when the radical left party is called to deliver?
The EU and the IMF don’t operate on emotion. Money will need to be raised or Greece will have to heroically fall on her sword.
Syriza’s candidates, some of whom have been vocal about a return to the drachma and a communist take on economy while others support a socio-democratic EU trajectory, are in the majority inexperienced career politicians. To make it, they’ll have to bridge their ideological gaps and learn fast.
If Tsipras’ Syriza fails it will be a big one. The public will be merciless. The popular odium for political subterfuge that Syriza helped incite will backfire and people, who have by now been taught that a three-week sit-in outside the Greek parliament can cause governments to fall, will not spare them.
Since the Greek civil war in the 40s and the military junta two decades later, leftwing politics have won the moral ground on people’s conscience. If a radical left government is the one to lead the country to default the myth of pure left-wing motives will collapse spectacularly.
It’s true, Greece does need a change. And it is to everyone’s best interest that Alexis Tsipras, should he become Prime Minister of Greece on January 25, succeed. But chances are a deus x machina will not be resolving this Greek tragedy.
The Greek Politics Blog 
Reblogged this on Rubicon Crossing and commented:
An insightful look at Greece elections and the surge of Tsipras and Syriza’s popularity. The Greeks seem determined to end up with an socialist state run economy much like Venezuela. Anyone Greek with half a brain and an ounce of ambition, head for thee nearest airport ASAP if Syriza wins the elections.
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the only reform Troika should tell us to do is finally and drasticaly end with communism in Greece. They were wrong. (again). No problem, we will do in on our own. We will do it the Greek way… Tsipras in a few months will be in Venezuela. Just wait & enjoy the show.
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