Alwaght- Alexis Tsipras, the leftist Greek Prime Minister has resigned giving in to the Western pressures, while some members of his party criticized Tsipras, because he acceded to the European creditors' conditions for a third bailout package, and, most importantly, because he has failed to
Tsipras has asked the president Prokopis Pavlopoulos to, as the country’s constitution dictates, make an interim government to prepare for early elections .
The leftist government of Alexis Tsipras which was elected only seven months ago with the vow of ending the economic austerity measures was rebuked by some of his party members in the parliament when he failed to practically actualize his election commitments, and acquiesced to more imposed European austerity measures programs in exchange for a third bailout. The reports suggest that 45 members of the Greece’s ruling party Syriza have voted against the third austerity-based bailout backed by Tsipras, and this led him to lose majority .
Finally, under mounting pressure, Alexis Tsipras has announced resignation and called for early elections .
Ahead of his resignation, the Prime Minister, in a press conference, said that he felt a moral duty to ask for early elections to know about the people’s opinions on his government’s achievements and shortcomings. He added that soon he would tender his and government's resignation to the President .
Why early elections ?
According to the Greek constitution when less than a year has passed since the government is formed, the Prime Minister is not authorized to resolve the parliament, and he has to inform the President of his decision to hold early elections. Subsequently, the president would assign other parties in the Parliament to form a government. However, if the total number of other parties is not enough for government formation, the country resorts to early elections .
The early elections date and possible rivals
The Greece’s early election is likely to be held on 20 September 2015 . The former Minister of Finance Yanis Varoufakis would be Tsipras's potential rival in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Should Tsipras fails to secure a majority in the future parliamentary election, forming a coalition cabinet would be unavoidable .
Tsipras’ resignation leads to defections in his party
After resignation of Alexis Tsipras from his post as Prime Minister, 25 leftist lawmakers announced their defection from the Syriza party, paving the way for the formation of a new party. The reports say that the new party’s name would be Greece’s National Union Party, as it would be led by the former Minister of Energy Panagiotis Lafazanis. The rebellion in Syriza party comes after a number of the lawmakers in the party have not supported Tsipras in a poll over new European bailout program which required more austerity measures in Greece .
How popular is the ruling party ?
Tsipras’ party Syriza, in the parliamentary elections held in January, won 149 out of 300 seats, followed by the conservative party New Democracy which secured 76 seats. The polls indicate that despite critical economic condition, Tsipras’ party still enjoys popularity and it would possibly rank first again in the coming parliamentary election. However, the polls also suggest that according to Greeks' minds the Prime Minister’s resignation was too early, and would only destabilize the country .
Roots of crisis in the Greek government
In 2009 the Greece’s economic crisis has entered a critical stage, and since then no government has managed to settle the crisis in the Europe’s gate to West Asia. Some economists believe that wrong economic policies as well as early integration of this weak country into global markets have led to the current economic troubles, as the economic corruption adds to Greek’s deteriorated economic conditions. Other factors also exist, including the bad performance of the banks and the capital escape from the economy. Economic crisis as well as some Europe- imposed reforms including tax rises, like the European model of taxing, and wages cut have sparked violent street protests .
Definitely, the Greece’s economic issues are influenced by the global economic crisis which started seven years ago hit the US economy, and spilled over into Europe, as it has kept casting its shadow over the world’s economy hitherto. The systematic inconsistency of the weak East European countries and their merger into the EU are also factors that have kept Greece immersed in crisis .
Led by Alexis Tsipras, and with a promise to negotiate with creditors over the rescue plan, and to end the austerity measures, the Syriza party has won parliamentary elections in January 2015
. Indeed Greek's people elected Syriza as a reaction to past five year’s policies, the upshot of w was 25% drop in the country’s GDP, and unemployment of nearly a quarter of the Greeks. Actually, the Greeks were optimistic that Syriza’s victory would put and to their longtime suffering from the painful austerity measures. Nevertheless, the economic crisis has kept firmly standing despite a series of rescue packages presented conditionally by the EU .
There are some reasons behind Tsipras’ failure to cope with the crippling economic crisis. Tsipras could not implement his elections vows, including fighting corruption and improving living conditions of the Greeks. Additionally, the Greece’s economy does no accord with the West European economy, a factor that makes any EU’s efforts to adopt their economic models backfire, and pushes the faltering local Greece’s economy to suffer even more damages .
Indeed, the Greece's infrastructures were not well-prepared to join the EU, and Tsipras and his party's pro-East tendency was not approved by the Western European powers. Also, Tsipras’ party member took a stealthy trip to Moscow, Tehran and Beijing, that drew European criticism. The trip aiming to receive help and buy bonds has created mistrust among EU countries that played a crucial role in Tsipras’ unavoidable resignation .
In fact, Western European countries oppose rise of leftist parties to power, as the European ordinary citizens do not support the left-wing parties compared to their backing of the right-wing parties .
Seemingly, the Western European powers would not help Greece get rod of the current uncertain situation unless they are fully assured that in exchange for their bailouts they will get privileges and their interests are fulfilled .
