Greece: neoliberalism, nationalism and religion | …

D & # 39; Athens

The "vote of anger" against Syriza, which 39.9% of the Greek population cast at the polls on Sunday, July 7, took over the conservative party which, with the other great traditional force, Pasok, led the country serious economic crisis that has been going on for more than ten years. The broken promises of center-left Alexis Tsipras about the austerity policies entrusted to him to eliminate or, at least, mitigate, resulted in a difference of more than 8 points over the leader. of New Democracy (ND), Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in the recent general elections. This 180-degree turn in the Hellenic Parliament – the conservatives now have an absolute majority with 158 seats out of 300 – means not only reorienting the country to a neoliberal direction, but also reclaiming command from one of the largest Greek dynasties. influential The new prime minister is the son of former president Kostas Mitsotakis, brother of the former minister and mayor of Athens and uncle of the mayor of the newly elected capital, Kostas Bakoyannis. Originally from the island of Crete, this family shares power with two other clans: the Karamanlis, of which the founder of ND is a native, and Papandreou, a family whose origins are three former prime ministers of the Pasok Socialist Party . After an independent training like SYRIZA was introduced in 2015 in this dynamic "hereditary" government, the weight of tradition and perhaps the fear of new "experiences" have again placed the Hellenic executive in its well-known setting.

The speech of a leader like Mitsotakis – trained at Harvard, with a long political career and experience in the banking sector – by betting on economic stability, the attractiveness of foreign investment and a drastic reduction in taxes has managed to convince nearly 40% of voters, that this time, they did not believe Tsipras promises or their latest measures against the clock to reverse the devastating effects of austerity agreed with Europe. Although during Syriza's tenure, the economy recorded the first rebound in a decade of deep and continuing recession, GDP grew at an average annual rate of 2%, and unemployment rose from 27.5% in 2013 to 18%. , 5%, according to data from the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) – Greece remains lagging behind Europe in terms of working conditions and wages. In a country with a debt of 180% of GDP and three bailouts of the "troika" – European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF – for a total amount of 290 billion euros behind them, the few benefits that ensue at the macroeconomic level can be seen not yet reach people's daily lives. "A black market of workers has been created in which people charge 300 or 400 euros a month for full-time work without a contract.We talk about slavery," exclaims economist Leonidas Vatikiotis, one of the founders of the Greek Debt Verification Commission and advisor to the famous documentary Debtocracy (Deudocracy).

"Greece is under control until 2060, they do not know how we admire what they did in Argentina when they overthrew the IMF and canceled the debt," said Dionisios Eleutheratos, political scientist, journalist and co-author of a book devoted to badysis. of the "post memorandum" era. The economic objectives agreed with the government of Syriza with Europe – a primary surplus of 3.5% until 2022 and 2% until 2060 – are considered left and right as some something that can only be badumed at the cost of new cuts in the meager yes, public spending. Kyriakos Mitsotakis insisted during the campaign that, thanks to its economic program, it would regain market confidence and could renegotiate these difficult conditions with creditors. "Monday was held a meeting of the Eurogroup and his first reaction to the change of government in Greece was to remind him that the surplus figures are and will continue to be fixed.I see it very difficult that the Germany or France are slacking off, however, we will have to wait for what is happening in the international context too, because Europe is now in economic war with Trump and this can lead to new lines of action, "believes Eleutheratos.

According to the political scientist, the path proposed by ND will be very similar to that of Argentine President Mauricio Macri. "Mitsotakis is talking about a new privatization program, far more than the ones that have already taken place in all these years because of agreements with the IMF and other international creditors." tax cuts for businesses, but where will this money come from which will no longer enter the state? Many fear that health and public education, as has been done all along of this decade of austerity, "warns Eleutheratos.

Neoliberalism is not the only pillar of the new Hellenic executive, so is nationalism and religion. At its inauguration on Monday, July 8, Kyriakos Mitsotakis swore on the Bible – and not on the Constitution, as Alexis Tsipras in 2015 – at a ceremony presided over by the highest authorities of the Greek Orthodox Church and to which 51 ministers – including only 5 women – attended with their families. "Greece is one of the few countries in Europe where religion and the state are not separated.The Church participates in foreign policy, education, everything … And now, with the new government, we can be calm, "said political scientist Eleutheratos, noting that Syriza had not dared limit ecclesiastical domination.

Patriotic fervor is present in every word of Mitsotakis, especially since, in June 2018, Tsipras and the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, signed the agreement ending a dispute between both states for over 30 years. years under the name of Macedonia. At the head of mbad protests in Athens and Thessaloniki, capital of the Greek region of Macedonia, protagonist of the conflict by his nickname, Mitsotakis badured that, when he would be in power, he would seek to veto the Access of Northern Macedonia to the European Union "if the national interests [de Grecia] they are not guaranteed. "In the same vein, the new president has discussed tensions with Turkey during his recent incursions into the territorial waters of Cyprus because of possible oil deposits." Brussels must punish Turkey for violation of Cypriot sovereignty and the Greek people will in turn have to demonstrate national unity and determination to face the threat, "proclaimed Mitsotakis during his last election campaign.

The radical right also occupies a prominent place in the new government that took office on Tuesday, 9 July. The head of government has appointed Adonis Georgiadis Minister of Development and Makis Voridis Minister of Agriculture, two representatives of the far-right nationalist LAOS party, who had been expelled from Parliament in 2012 and had been partially absorbed by the formation of Mitsotakis. Georgiadis, one of them, is accused of anti-Semitic comments. In 2013, as Minister of Health of the previous government, it was proposed to compulsorily submit the AIDS test to prostitutes, indigent and undocumented migrants. "The far right has always been inside ND In 1977, there was in Greece a nostalgic party of the dictatorship – remembers Dionisios Eleutheratos – which had a percentage very similar to that of the neo-Nazi's. Golden Dawn and who then disappeared why? Because its members went to New Democracy. "