The Fifty Shades of an Honest Compromise

Five months of back and forth of dispute and resistance seem to have come to an end. Who has surrendered and who has won the mother of all battles is still unclear. Is it the Euro, the world Economy, the Institutions or the Greeks? Beats me. Is it the Greek Government, the Russians or the West? I have no idea. Or is it maybe the political opposition, the leftist or the right-winged political ideologies? Who knows for sure? What is noticeable, though, is the fatigue of the people who can no longer stand this drop-torture, is the fatigue for the conflicting language that each side is using to comment on the very same events, is the fatigue of the high ranking political staff of the EU, and honestly it is also the fatigue of the entire world on the topic of Greece and its detrimental dimensions and impact on the entire Universe.

What remains in the aftermath of the past five months, are accusations that things have been dealt with with unique amateurism, that the deal that was cut is a bad one for Greece as it came about too late and with all aces played too early in the game, and that the bill yet again will be borne by the Greek middle-class. It is even a euphemism to speak about social classes anymore in a globalised environment that treats societies like balance sheets. To add to the absurdity we are not over the danger zone yet, as the deal that has been stricken yesterday has to withstand the local Parliaments test. And there once more, Greeks are playing a predominant "drama" part, as voices within the country are becoming louder and louder in favour of disapproving the deal that the PM will present. First the deal was compared against the suggestions of the previous government only to conclude the low level job done, then it was compared against the pre-election programme of the SYRIZA government as announced in Thessaloniki only to conclude the massive discrepancies between the two with the further view to discredit the man in power.

In the background of this drama, which brought Greece to the verge of an exit from the Eurozone, and in accordance with many from the EU altogether, rallies had been organised in Athens to basically undermine the efforts of the Government. This is only revealing the proportions of the confusion among the public, who on the one hand voted this government only four months ago because it promised the end of austerity, while the banners during those rallies clearly highlighted the desire of this nation to remain part of Europe and the EU. Clearly two conflicting objectives, if not the true manifestation of political greed, as it either meant that I want to remain part of the Euro but without the burdens attached to this choice, or simply I want to stay but οn my own terms.

One should also not lose sight of the fact that SYRIZA is the first left wing government in the EU, and as such, is setting an example for what may or can happen in other EU countries, should a Socialistic-at best- EU tolerate the massive turn in politics towards a communist style of government. It goes without saying that the Greek government was abortive since the day of its coming into power. The odds were not in its favour and the likelihood that it will generate more hostility than sympathy was given. The EU had to be harsh in the manner with which the government had to be received and it remained just that until today. The Greek government also made no effort in hiding its political origins and affiliations, which only added to an already explosive mix. The occasional flirt with the partner in the East was also perceived as extremely counter-productive in the reaching of any consensus on the country's way forward. But because David provoked Goliath what remained in the end of this duel, is a heavily stripped version of the initial government profile, as displayed after January 25, 2015. The deal stricken bears the characteristics of a genuine liberal government and as such has inflicted internal damage to the quality of this government. If the deal makes it through Greek parliament it will most likely signal the end of SYRIZA. Question remains: was this "left parenthesis" as many predicted it in the political life of Greece really necessary?