Greek Election Results Prompt Mixed Reaction across Europe

Southeast Europe | January 26, 2015, Monday // 08:37|  views

Photo by EPA/BGNES

The victory of leftist SYRIZA party in the early parliamentary elections held in Greece have left European leaders divided in their assessment, with many fearing this could have negative repercussions in their own countries.

British Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter that "the Greek election will increase economic uncertainty across Europe."


German Chancellor Angela Merkel is yet to comment on the election results. Germany's central bank Bundesbank, however, came up with a message to Greece just within hours after the first exit poll results were made public.

Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann warned Athens could count on EU assistance only if it upheld its agreements with international lenders. "I hope the new government won't call into question what is expected and what has already been achieved," he told German TV station ARD. In his words, it is "clear" that Greece would have to continue using the bailout program.

Germany has been the biggest EU contributor to Greece's bailout packages, with EUR 65 B transferred by Berlin to help Athens tackle its massive public debt.  

Results have probably produced a substantial impact on Spanish capital Madrid as well, with the government seeking to avoid a Greek-style scenario.

Conservative PM Mariano Rajoy, who has been struggling to mitigate the effect austerity measures have had on society and its support for the leftist Podemos ("We Can") movement, warned on Sunday Spanish citizens should not "play Russian roulette" by backing the party which has attracted thousands of people with its messages to end severe measures putting a wheel on growth and leaving thousands jobless.

Hours before official results were announced, at a congress of his Popular Party (PP), Rajoy told delegates: "We cannot play the future of our children on the Russian roulette of frivolity, incompetence and populism."

His comments, quoted by daily El Pa?s, come against the backdrop of Tsipras's promise that the effect of his victory will go beyond Greek borders. Many leftist movements in Europe have also been pinning their hopes on a SYRIZA win to trigger a stronger anti-austerity wave across Europe.

Others opted for a more positive approach. French President Francois Hollande congratulated Tsipras for the election victory and said the two would work together to ensure stability and growth in the single-currency area "in a spirit of progress, solidarity and responsibility" that is at the heart of the European values.
 

 

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Tags: Angela Merkel, Mariano Rajoy, David Cameron, francois hollande, Jens Weidmann

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