ThePressProject.net Friday, May 4th 2012

The two main parties, PASOK (socialists) and Nea Democratia (conservatives) are projected to gather a combined 40% -45% of the votes at the may 6 polls. This would be an unprecedented debacle, but, thanks to the electoral law, it could still allow them to form a coalition government. 

But how are they doing it? How come they are still projected to gather 40%-45% of the votes, despite the untold misery they have so far inflicted on the Greek population? Why will some Greeks still vote for them, no matter how much they despise them?

The answer is, in many cases, pure fear. People have been trapped into the dilemma “stable goverment or chaos” ,one carefully cultivated by numerous official statements in Greece and abroad.

Here s a recent sample:

  •  “I would like to ask if a coalition government by Tsipras (Synaspismos, left)  and Kammenos (independent Greeks, right)  will truly, in one month from now, in June, be able to pay salaries and pensions.They need to say publicly if they will pay pensions in June” (Michalis Chrysohoidis, Minister for Citizen Protection, the one who famously admitted he signed the onerous terms of the first bailout package without reading them. Interviewed by Athina 9,84 radio station, May 2nd)

 

  • “The Greek people will have to give a clear answer as to whether it wants [to follow] a pro-European course, which is safe and responsible, or something else.”“There are certain misconceptions that worry me: for instance, the misconception that whatever happens we are not going to leave the euro,” he said, adding that with so much at stake it was crucial Greece's “political stability” was ensured at the ballot box.  “Europe and the eurozone have no reason, rationally, to push Greece out of the euro. But this is a system in which many parties, many countries, many governments, many electorates participate and we could have events which, rationally, are not controllable,” (Evangelos Venizelos PASOK chief, former Economy Minister, interview at the Guardian, April 30th)

 

  • “The program has already been agreed and must be backed by the widest possible margin,”  “This will give a clear message to the creditors and the markets that Greece is staying the course to bring back its economy to a viable path. If Athens veers off, its willingness and ability to remain in the euro zone will be again questioned in a big way.” (senior IMF official,WSJ, May 4th)

 

  • “There is simply no more patience or time for Greece. The only option left for them would be to quit the euro if they don't like the deal they have,” (anonymous euro zone official, reuters, May 3rd)