The Champion of Greek Outrage

EUROKINISSI
The new pied piper of Hellas is Alexis Tsipras, 37, the leftist rabble rouser with keen political instincts and few scruples who led his radical left coalition, Syriza, to an astonishing second place finish in the May 6 election.

By NICHOLAS GAGE NEW YORK. (New York Times). Throughout their history, Greeks in times of crisis have rushed to embrace charismatic demagogues like lemmings throwing themselves into the sea. After the death of Pericles during the Peloponnesian War, Athenians allowed his seductive nephew, Alcibiades, then 35, to talk them into wasting most of their remaining military resources on a disastrous expedition in Sicily. Despite the terrible losses suffered in that debacle and even after he betrayed them to both the Spartans and the Persians, they took him back to their bosom twice.

The new pied piper of Hellas is Alexis Tsipras, 37, the leftist rabble rouser with keen political instincts and few scruples who led his radical left coalition, Syriza, to an astonishing second place finish in the May 6 election.

The always tieless Mr. Tsipras, a civil engineer from a prosperous family, deftly exploited anger against the austerity measures imposed by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund on the Greek people, who have seen their earnings plummet and unemployment rise to 22 percent.

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May 17, 2012

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1. Philip Vorgias wrote on May 17, 2012 6:55 AM	Mr. Gage is absolutely correct, Tsipras is wreckless and dangerous. If he becomes the next Greek PM the nation is heading for the garbage can of europe. The Greeks better consider this before the next election or theyr'e finished.

2. Phaedra Savas wrote on May 17, 2012 8:46 AM	I agree with Gage. His comparisons to the ancients and how they went along with Alkiviadis is scary but true. Hard to believe that after so many centuries the Greek mindset seems to be the same. P. Savas

3. Nicholas Kostopoulos wrote on May 17, 2012 9:22 AM	I also agree with Mr. Gage, a demi-god like Tsipras is probably the reason Greece will collapse, and most likely a Civil War will happen in Greece, like what happened after WWII in Greece. His only plan is to nex the economic plan done by the IMF and the ECC. The poor greek citizens of Greece will be starving within 6 months, and most likely a Civil War will occur in Greece. One can only hope then, that the armed forces of Greece will see this and declare martial law. If the armed forces don't straighten out this mess, and put Tsipras and his party out of business Greece is doomed. If not then, there was once a country called Greece, that was the cradle of civilization.

4. Basil Zafiriou wrote on May 17, 2012 10:00 AM	Excellent article! Tsipras is gambling with the fate of Greece when he denounces the agreement with the Troika while counting on keeping the euro. And Greece would lose even if his gamble won, for without the reforms under that agreement Greece cannot prosper. Moreover, having alienated all his international partners, what support can Tsipras then expect when an isolated Greece confronts its many other challenges from Cyprus to FYROM , illegal migrants and Aegean rights?

5. Dionysios Markopoulos wrote on May 17, 2012 10:51 AM	Turkey is on the rise as a regional power just at this crucial time when Greece is at its weakest since world war II. And now, natural gas and oil are part of the equation. Which country will come to Greece's rescue when the Turks swoop in and take the oil and natural gas? Greece cannot defend itself in the state its in. Wars need money not just weapons. And soldiers need food, medicine, clothing etc. The Greek voters are playing the most dangerous game in modern Greek history. If Greece is forced out of the Euro and back to the drachma, the consequences will not only be economic and sociological. The consequences will also have serious military consequences adverse to Greece. How could such a bright group of people as the Greeks be doing this to themselves? I pray they come to their senses before they fall off the cliff.

6. Philip Vorgias wrote on May 17, 2012 3:03 PM	If this guy destroys Greece there will be no place he can hide from the rightful indignation of those who love that nation. Unlike so many Greek politicians who've gotten away with looting the nation, he WILL be held accountable. On that you can solemnly rely.

7. Nicholas Kostopoulos wrote on May 17, 2012 4:13 PM	One can only hope that Tsipras's destruction happens before he can destroy Greece. The citizens of Greece hopefully can realize their mistake in agreeing and voting for him before the end comes for Greece.

8. Argyrakis VAN wrote on May 17, 2012 4:20 PM	I have a campaign slogan for the other parties: No Tie, No Vote!

9. Niko Seretis wrote on May 17, 2012 10:56 PM	The criminals in Greek government aren't being held accountable today for the collapse of the Greek economy. The media is still not doing what the media is supposed to be doing. What makes anyone think Tsipras will be held accountable? I agree the military should step in and eliminate Tsipras before he does even more damage. The Greek people are not in the right state of mind.
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Saturday, May 25, 2013 Last Update: 11:36 AM ET

The Champion of Greek Outrage

May 17, 2012

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