Poll shows Greece electing pro-bailout government

[xchrom]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/05/17/uk-greece-idUKBRE8440DC20120517

(Reuters) - Greek voters are returning to the establishment parties that negotiated its bailout, a poll showed on Thursday, offering potential salvation for European leaders who say a snap Greek election next month will decide whether it must quit the euro.

The poll, the first conducted since talks to form a government collapsed and a new election was called for June 17, showed the conservative New Democracy party in first place, several points ahead of the radical leftist SYRIZA which has pledged to tear up the bailout.

EU leaders say that without the bailout, Greece would be headed for certain bankruptcy and ejection from the common currency, which would sow financial destruction across the continent. The prospect SYRIZA would win the election has sent the euro and markets across the continent plummeting this week.

The poll predicted New Democracy would win 26.1 percent of the vote compared to 23.7 percent for SYRIZA.

[mactime]

1. It's called growing up

The last elections where the temper tantrum but now it's time to grow up and face reality.

[badtoworse]

2. +1

[pampango]

3. Opinion polls show that 70% of Greeks want to remain part of the eurozone

Opinion polls show that 70% of Greeks want to remain part of the eurozone. Only the parties of the extreme left and right want it to exit. Four-fifths voted for parties that would prefer to keep Greece in, although their views on the price to be paid to achieve that goal differ.

Far from revealing that Greeks want to exit the euro, the election results send out a clear signal that the policy framework imposed since the crisis began has been wrong and needs to be rethought.

The majority of the electorate supported parties that would prefer to keep Greece in Europe, while delivering a strong rebuke to the two traditional parties of government, New Democracy and Pasok, for having brought Greece to bankruptcy and then being associated with the "austerity memorandum" – the terms of the troika bailout packages.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/may/13/greece-must-stay-eurozone

Greeks obviously want to stay a part of Europe but realize that their traditional parties have represented the elites who have brought the country to this point. Somehow they will have to raise taxes and make them more progressive by eliminating exemptions enjoyed by the rich so that Greece can pay for the progressive government policies which the rest of Europe takes for granted.

That is not an easy task.

[xchrom]

4. yes, i understand that and share your view.

the sicker here is wanting to remain in the eurozone -- i don't really think the greeks want to slaves to germany or the big, anonymous banks.

it's a problem.