by Stathis Gourgouris, for Greek Left Review
The majority of Greeks voted for governmentability this time, as
opposed to registering a mere protest vote as in the May 6 elections.
This manifestation was motivated by two contrary sentiments, fear of
change and desire for change, which correspond to votes going to New
Democracy and SYRIZA respectively.
The new government to be formed will involve collaboration between
two nominally vicious opponents of the past, who have been, however,
complicit in the degradation of the Greek political system in the last
30 years. Their current collaboration confirms their long term mutual
complicity and renders their previous opposition a mere brawl over
spoils. In this respect, there has never been greater political
clarity as to the primary self-interest of the Greek political elite.
But this new government will represent an electorate that has
registered its trust motivated by fear. Such politics can never sustain
itself in the long run, especially as the new ND-PASOK government is
bound to distinguish itself by even greater capitulation to the
interests of financial capital and European bureaucratic elites. The
very same people who voted for this sort of political formation (a
minority position overall) will quickly turn against their rulers in
various manifestations of social unrest. How this social unrest will
translate into a different political order is one of the key wagers of
Greece’s future.
On the other hand, SYRIZA collected unprecedented popular support. It
is evident that voters who supported SYRIZA are no longer motivated by
mere opposition to the old political order. Rather, they registered
their conviction that SYRIZA is a probable (and indeed desirable)
governing force. There is a stunning statistic that shows SYRIZA an
overwhelming victor among the ages of 55 years and below, while the
population of over 55 years old went to ND. The desire for change and
the commitment to change belongs to Greece’s future, while the
fear-driven, literally conservative, sentiment that brought ND to power
is a force of years past. While not knowing exactly how this will play
out, this generational discrepancy must not be underestimated.
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE.
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