The dubious relationships between the European Union and democracy must have played a part in yesterday"s announcement of the imminent resignation of Greek PM Giorgios Papandreou, a resignation which was later denied in a piece of news broadcasted by the Greek public television.
As must have probably did the announcement that Papandreou said he was willing to cancel the plan to call for a referendum (meaning it would just be used as a Damocles" sword).
That the European Union can no longer be bothered with democracy, is obvious from the hostile reaction to Papandreou"s plan to call for a Referendum, which means that the Greeks would be called to decide whether or not they accept the extremely harsh austerity measures, which are prerequisites to the EU and the IMF releasing 130 billion Euros to Greece.
Everyone (including yours truly) was outraged after the referendum was announced, viewing it as the Greeks resorting to blackmail and playing a cynical and dirty game, but here is the opinion of one of the readers of BURSA, posted yesterday, among the comments on our website:
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* 5. The Greek lesson
(message sent by Tudor Vasiliu on 02.11.2011, 09:11)
It"s hard to go against the grain in this deluge of hot-headed opinions, but I will try anyway:
1. The Greeks invented democracy.
2. In civilized countries, the referendum is the main manifestation of democracy.
3. No reasonable politician is going to pass "austerity measures" without the approval of a simple majority of those who are concerned by these "measures".
4. The backstabbing conditions of the loans given to Greece it"s not something you"d expect from a "family", like Sarkozy claims the EU is.
In short, what we have here is a lesson in democracy and economics which the Greeks are giving us with directness, r
