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| Greeks’ Anticipation Turns to Anxiety, Then Frustration in Weekend on Edge | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| ATHENS — Many Greeks went to bed on Friday thinking that their government and its creditors had all but completed a deal that would keep the country in the eurozone and was acceptable all around, even though it contained another raft of austerity measures. | |
| But by midday Saturday any sense of relief was gone, replaced by anxiety as negotiations in Brussels took a tough turn. Greeks were glued to their radios or were constantly refreshing news websites on their phones as it became clear that the other nations using the euro were still divided over granting Greece another bailout. | But by midday Saturday any sense of relief was gone, replaced by anxiety as negotiations in Brussels took a tough turn. Greeks were glued to their radios or were constantly refreshing news websites on their phones as it became clear that the other nations using the euro were still divided over granting Greece another bailout. |
| “I thought the drama was over,” said Panagiotis Demesoukas, 49, who used to own a construction business. “But then I realized, no. Even this deal wasn’t enough for them.” | “I thought the drama was over,” said Panagiotis Demesoukas, 49, who used to own a construction business. “But then I realized, no. Even this deal wasn’t enough for them.” |
| And by Sunday, anxiety was turning to frustration and even anger as it became increasingly likely that any deal — if one could be reached at all — would involve further concessions from Greece, including a rushed package of new legislation to overhaul various elements of economic policy. | And by Sunday, anxiety was turning to frustration and even anger as it became increasingly likely that any deal — if one could be reached at all — would involve further concessions from Greece, including a rushed package of new legislation to overhaul various elements of economic policy. |
| “I think that they just want to kick us out,” Mr. Demesoukas said. | “I think that they just want to kick us out,” Mr. Demesoukas said. |
| The measures that the Greek Parliament had passed in the early morning Saturday, capitulating to creditor demands on almost every front, had become nothing more than “a good basis for discussion” in Brussels, a phrase some Greeks repeated to each other with disgust. | The measures that the Greek Parliament had passed in the early morning Saturday, capitulating to creditor demands on almost every front, had become nothing more than “a good basis for discussion” in Brussels, a phrase some Greeks repeated to each other with disgust. |
| Some found the criticism from fellow Europeans in Brussels about Greece’s capacity to follow through on its promises to be humiliating. Others said they felt like they were in the hands of loan sharks. | Some found the criticism from fellow Europeans in Brussels about Greece’s capacity to follow through on its promises to be humiliating. Others said they felt like they were in the hands of loan sharks. |
| Others said they were just worn out. | Others said they were just worn out. |
| “I am so sick and tired of all this,” said Giorgos Papadopoulos, 49, a taxi driver who had tried to turn his car radio off, but found all his passengers asking him to turn it on to listen for news. “It’s such crazy theater. We said no and, then, we said yes. And now, they say no. It’s hard to figure out what is going on.” | “I am so sick and tired of all this,” said Giorgos Papadopoulos, 49, a taxi driver who had tried to turn his car radio off, but found all his passengers asking him to turn it on to listen for news. “It’s such crazy theater. We said no and, then, we said yes. And now, they say no. It’s hard to figure out what is going on.” |
| Equally baffling, even for experts, was the political fallout that might be ahead for Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, whether he gets a deal or not. He was able to easily muster the votes for the deal that Greece’s creditors are now saying is only a good start. But two of his own ministers voted against it, and about 30 others made clear their disapproval in various ways. | Equally baffling, even for experts, was the political fallout that might be ahead for Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, whether he gets a deal or not. He was able to easily muster the votes for the deal that Greece’s creditors are now saying is only a good start. But two of his own ministers voted against it, and about 30 others made clear their disapproval in various ways. |
| Mr. Tsipras’s Syriza party now appears deeply split, and the government heavily reliant on opposition parties to pass any additional legislation required by a deal with the creditors. This weekend’s newspapers suggested that the divisions could soon lead to an overhaul of the government. Even Syriza’s newspaper, Avgi, said that a reshuffle was imminent and that new elections loom. | Mr. Tsipras’s Syriza party now appears deeply split, and the government heavily reliant on opposition parties to pass any additional legislation required by a deal with the creditors. This weekend’s newspapers suggested that the divisions could soon lead to an overhaul of the government. Even Syriza’s newspaper, Avgi, said that a reshuffle was imminent and that new elections loom. |
| Some analysts said that the political landscape was so bizarre these days that it was impossible to predict what might happen and, if a multiparty unity government were needed, which parties might join forces. | Some analysts said that the political landscape was so bizarre these days that it was impossible to predict what might happen and, if a multiparty unity government were needed, which parties might join forces. |
| “Things are so messy,” said Paschos Mandravelis, a political analyst with the conservative newspaper Kathimerini. “It’s hard to make any predictions about anything.” | “Things are so messy,” said Paschos Mandravelis, a political analyst with the conservative newspaper Kathimerini. “It’s hard to make any predictions about anything.” |
| Mr. Mandravelis said that Mr. Tsipras would have to get rid of the two ministers who voted no and that it would probably be important to Europe for Mr. Tsipras to surround himself with technocrats who know the ways of the European Union, since “a lack of trust” had now become a major part of the discussions in Brussels. | Mr. Mandravelis said that Mr. Tsipras would have to get rid of the two ministers who voted no and that it would probably be important to Europe for Mr. Tsipras to surround himself with technocrats who know the ways of the European Union, since “a lack of trust” had now become a major part of the discussions in Brussels. |
| He said that there was very little appetite, even from opposition parties, for new elections. | |
| “I think this is the first time the political system in Greece understands how much is at stake in unity,” Mr. Mandravelis said. | |
| But even if Mr. Tsipras stays in office, he will, in effect, have been forced to move toward the political center. | |
| Some analysts have long maintained that the European leaders were uncomfortable with the far-left component of the Syriza party and wanted to oust Mr. Tsipras altogether. | |
| Some said that forcing him to bring home yet another deal with harsher measures, measures that even the previous center-right government under Antonis Samaras could not pass, would amount to a regime change. | Some said that forcing him to bring home yet another deal with harsher measures, measures that even the previous center-right government under Antonis Samaras could not pass, would amount to a regime change. |
| “You would be looking at Syriza 2.0,” said Aris Chatzistefanou, a leftist journalist and documentarian, who said he had been in front of his computer for 16 hours a day this weekend. “Practically speaking, those who wanted to overthrow him would have succeeded.” | “You would be looking at Syriza 2.0,” said Aris Chatzistefanou, a leftist journalist and documentarian, who said he had been in front of his computer for 16 hours a day this weekend. “Practically speaking, those who wanted to overthrow him would have succeeded.” |
| Inside a dress shop near the Acropolis, the radio was giving late-afternoon updates, and Dora Sigala, 66, was listening as she waited on customers. The weekend, she said, had left her totally disillusioned. | |
| “It’s like we are dealing with racketeers,” she said. “Really. They just want more.” | “It’s like we are dealing with racketeers,” she said. “Really. They just want more.” |
| Many just felt helpless. “Germany is the strong one,” said George Patsoulas, 43, a consultant who carries out safety and hygiene inspections for companies. “When you are the weak one, you are at their mercy.” | Many just felt helpless. “Germany is the strong one,” said George Patsoulas, 43, a consultant who carries out safety and hygiene inspections for companies. “When you are the weak one, you are at their mercy.” |
| He wondered, however, whether Germany might be going too far. Its leaders were “pushing the limits, more and more, until — boom!” he said, throwing his arms up. “I don’t think they want a breakup of Europe, but they want to show they are the leader of the game. But there is a great risk of a dangerous outcome.” | He wondered, however, whether Germany might be going too far. Its leaders were “pushing the limits, more and more, until — boom!” he said, throwing his arms up. “I don’t think they want a breakup of Europe, but they want to show they are the leader of the game. But there is a great risk of a dangerous outcome.” |
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