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Greek elections: 'In a way we're winners' say voters Greek elections: 'In a way we're winners' says Syriza
(about 4 hours later)
On the fifth floor of Syriza's headquarters in Athens, a member of the Italian Communist party sat smoking a cigar and typing earnestly on his computer.On the fifth floor of Syriza's headquarters in Athens, a member of the Italian Communist party sat smoking a cigar and typing earnestly on his computer.
Around him were leftwing allies from Portugal, Norway, Germany and Brazil, all crammed in and analysing the results of a longed-for victory that had not quite materialised. But, far from mournful, the atmosphere was one of defiance. An alternative victory narrative was being created. "In a way, we are the winners," said spokeswoman Natassa Theodorakopoulou, devouring a bowl of nuts amid a host of European Socialists. "We were a party of 4.5% and in a few months we managed to come almost first."Around him were leftwing allies from Portugal, Norway, Germany and Brazil, all crammed in and analysing the results of a longed-for victory that had not quite materialised. But, far from mournful, the atmosphere was one of defiance. An alternative victory narrative was being created. "In a way, we are the winners," said spokeswoman Natassa Theodorakopoulou, devouring a bowl of nuts amid a host of European Socialists. "We were a party of 4.5% and in a few months we managed to come almost first."
Across town, in Syntagma square, a group of around a hundred members of Nea Demokratia youth had gathered to capitalise noisily on their party's overall success at the polls. Adapting Greek football chants to political themes with varying levels of success, they hugged and grinned. "[Antonis] Samaras took responsibility to tell Greeks, 'OK, things are difficult, but despite all this the only choice is to stay in the euro with European support'," said 25-year-old Giorgos Tabanis. "Now Greece will make the right choices to get out of crisis."Across town, in Syntagma square, a group of around a hundred members of Nea Demokratia youth had gathered to capitalise noisily on their party's overall success at the polls. Adapting Greek football chants to political themes with varying levels of success, they hugged and grinned. "[Antonis] Samaras took responsibility to tell Greeks, 'OK, things are difficult, but despite all this the only choice is to stay in the euro with European support'," said 25-year-old Giorgos Tabanis. "Now Greece will make the right choices to get out of crisis."
Not everyone, however, was so sure.Not everyone, however, was so sure.
Thanassis, a receptionist in a hotel just a stone's throw from the square, said that, no matter what had happened in the election, he could not imagine that anything will improve. "Nothing in our real life will change," he said. "We are still going to pay more and more taxes, and our wages will go down. I don't want to be a rich man. I just want to be able to live like a normal man."Thanassis, a receptionist in a hotel just a stone's throw from the square, said that, no matter what had happened in the election, he could not imagine that anything will improve. "Nothing in our real life will change," he said. "We are still going to pay more and more taxes, and our wages will go down. I don't want to be a rich man. I just want to be able to live like a normal man."
Inside Syriza HQ, head of communications Vasilis Moulopoulos insisted the pro-bailout parties were "leading us to catastrophe". And Theodorakopoulou derided what she saw as neither a big nor honourable victory. "We shall see in a few months if this will be a stable or an unstable government," she said.Inside Syriza HQ, head of communications Vasilis Moulopoulos insisted the pro-bailout parties were "leading us to catastrophe". And Theodorakopoulou derided what she saw as neither a big nor honourable victory. "We shall see in a few months if this will be a stable or an unstable government," she said.
Explaining Syriza's failure to clinch victory overall, she pointedly referred to the appeals from other European governments to vote for a pro-bailout party. "We have to underline that there was a big pressure, not only from inside but also from outside. And this was the worst," she said. At least, she confided, they had received "a very friendly message" from Tony Benn.Explaining Syriza's failure to clinch victory overall, she pointedly referred to the appeals from other European governments to vote for a pro-bailout party. "We have to underline that there was a big pressure, not only from inside but also from outside. And this was the worst," she said. At least, she confided, they had received "a very friendly message" from Tony Benn.
The two parties represent sharply different policies and messages . On the one hand was Samaras, the pro-bailout New Democracy leader who cast his vote in the Peloponnesian town of Pylos promising a "new beginning". On the other was anti-austerity champion Alexis Tsipras, who was mobbed by supporters and television cameras when he arrived at an Athens polling station. But, for many people in this weary, divided nation, neither man was the solution to their acute problems.The two parties represent sharply different policies and messages . On the one hand was Samaras, the pro-bailout New Democracy leader who cast his vote in the Peloponnesian town of Pylos promising a "new beginning". On the other was anti-austerity champion Alexis Tsipras, who was mobbed by supporters and television cameras when he arrived at an Athens polling station. But, for many people in this weary, divided nation, neither man was the solution to their acute problems.
"I have voted for the thieves!" said an elderly man, marching out of a polling station in the historic district of Plaka."I have voted for the thieves!" said an elderly man, marching out of a polling station in the historic district of Plaka.
Turning on his heels without another word, he made off through the winding streets that nestle below the Acropolis.Turning on his heels without another word, he made off through the winding streets that nestle below the Acropolis.
Explanation, however, was not needed: "thieves" has become common parlance for the two parties that have dominated Greek politics since the fall of the colonels and oversaw the country's descent into debt-laden crisis.Explanation, however, was not needed: "thieves" has become common parlance for the two parties that have dominated Greek politics since the fall of the colonels and oversaw the country's descent into debt-laden crisis.
While voting proceeded calmly in most places, there were signs of growing tensions. Police in Athens said two unexploded hand grenades had been found on the premises of the privately owned Skai television station. And in the city of Corinth, members of the neo-nazi Golden Dawn party were reported to be standing in black shirts and military caps at the gates of one polling station, behaviour that critics said amounted to voter intimidation. Two others were reported to have smashed a ballot box in a polling station in the second city of Thessaloniki.While voting proceeded calmly in most places, there were signs of growing tensions. Police in Athens said two unexploded hand grenades had been found on the premises of the privately owned Skai television station. And in the city of Corinth, members of the neo-nazi Golden Dawn party were reported to be standing in black shirts and military caps at the gates of one polling station, behaviour that critics said amounted to voter intimidation. Two others were reported to have smashed a ballot box in a polling station in the second city of Thessaloniki.
Coming out of a polling station in Exarchia, Athens' anarchist neighbourhood where anti-fascist graffiti is scrawled over walls, Giorgios, a civil engineer, and Dimitris, an accountant, were happy to show that support for the far-right party could as easily come from middle-class professionals as uneducated, macho youths. "We feel they are more democratic than all the others,"Coming out of a polling station in Exarchia, Athens' anarchist neighbourhood where anti-fascist graffiti is scrawled over walls, Giorgios, a civil engineer, and Dimitris, an accountant, were happy to show that support for the far-right party could as easily come from middle-class professionals as uneducated, macho youths. "We feel they are more democratic than all the others,"
they said, smiling, and expressing their commitment to "human rights" – those of Greek citizens feeling imperilled by illegal immigrants. "In my country, I feel strange. Why? Because there are two million people who are living here illegally," said Giorgos, accusing immigrants of attacking Greek citizens.they said, smiling, and expressing their commitment to "human rights" – those of Greek citizens feeling imperilled by illegal immigrants. "In my country, I feel strange. Why? Because there are two million people who are living here illegally," said Giorgos, accusing immigrants of attacking Greek citizens.
"Our children are in danger ," Dimitris said, accusing immigrants of taking Greek jobs. What did they think of Ilias Kasidiaris, their party's spokesman who hit a female MP on television this month? "He's our best boy." Refusing to condemn his act, Dimitris said that some male politicians needed to be aggressive to express themselves."Our children are in danger ," Dimitris said, accusing immigrants of taking Greek jobs. What did they think of Ilias Kasidiaris, their party's spokesman who hit a female MP on television this month? "He's our best boy." Refusing to condemn his act, Dimitris said that some male politicians needed to be aggressive to express themselves.
In Athens, Anna Benaki, a moderate figure in New Democracy and president of the Greek parliament from 2004, said it was "understandable" many felt angry with her party and Pasok, the centre-left stalwarts of former PM George Papandreou. But, she said, a protest vote for Syriza was not what the country needed. For Maria Barsevski, however, there was no other choice but Syriza.In Athens, Anna Benaki, a moderate figure in New Democracy and president of the Greek parliament from 2004, said it was "understandable" many felt angry with her party and Pasok, the centre-left stalwarts of former PM George Papandreou. But, she said, a protest vote for Syriza was not what the country needed. For Maria Barsevski, however, there was no other choice but Syriza.
"You can't believe that the ones who put us in this situation could be the ones to get us out of it," she said."You can't believe that the ones who put us in this situation could be the ones to get us out of it," she said.