Struggle in Greece intensifies

Vanguard July 2012 p. 11
Bill F.

The results of the June election in Greece clearly demonstrate the sharpening of political lines as the country reels under the austerity measures imposed by the ‘troika’ of the IMF, European Union and the European Central Bank.

Cheered on and supported by the German and French bankers and the fear-mongering media, the pro-austerity New Democracy just edged in front in the election, winning 79 seats plus the bonus 50 seats to shore up its position in the parliament. Even then, it would not have a working majority without the support of the feeble PASOK social democrats. (33 seats, down from 41 in May)

In second place, the Syriza coalition won 71 seats, an improvement from 16.8% of the vote in May to 26.9% in June. Five members of the Communist Organisation of Greece (KOE) were elected as part of the Syriza bloc.

All other parties saw their proportion of votes go down. Most spectacular was the drop in support for the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), which refused to cooperate with Syriza, and lost 14 seats, a decrease from 8.5% in May to 4.5% in June.

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For updates on the situation in Greece, visit the KOE website:
http://international.koel.gr/