KAS Konrad Adenauer Stiftung // Greek Politics in Hard Times: Between Europe and an Imaginary Place

In Greece, a program consisting of reforms in exchange for rescue packages from the EU, the
ECB and the IMF – the largest such program in modern fi nancial history – was supposed to have
served its purpose by 2015
Aimed at preventing the debt crisis from spreading through the eurozone, the program proved a
mixed blessing for Greece
Early election may lead to four scenarios: no government / new election, SYRIZA-led coalition
government, ND-led coalition government, SYRIZA government
It appears extremely uncertain whether a SYRIZA government can negotiate a successful new
troika arrangement that will be also acceptable to SYRIZA as a party
In terms of the challenges and dilemmas ahead, a broad coalition determined to reach a consensual,
negotiated European solution to Greece’s problems would be the best option for the country
Greece’s substantial defence presence in Southeast Europe exceeds the requirements for burden
sharing within NATO and should be recognized as such both internationally and in domestic politics,
especially in a phase of reopened geopolitical issues
At the moment, the prevailing political logic in Greece does not endorse politics as a sophisticated
way of seeking common ground in order to pursue collective ends
Yet the political socialization of actors is a continuous process; it is hoped that collective wisdom
in the EU will be such that any eventuality will be dealt with in a European spirit
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http://www.kas.de/wf/doc/kas_40193-1522-2-30.pdf?150122083357