The Greek dilemma

Germany perhaps has a piece of advice for Greece. The suggestion that Athens should simultaneously hold a referendum along with the general elections next month is quite meaningful.

The intention is to explicitly ask the electorate whether they want to remain in the eurozone and continue with the euro tender or not. The question is easier to be asked than answered! There are implications that would not only come to stop in Greece itself but flow beyond the horizons, effectively diluting the concept of single currency and political amalgamation of the 27-member union. Though Berlin has denied any such summarisation of thought for Athens, the issue has, nonetheless, picked momentum. The phone call Chancellor Angela Merkel made to Greece President Karolos Papoulias has simply pointed out that the issue of deciding for honouring the bailout packages or exiting from euro is beyond the decisionmaking limits of the interim government, and a new mandate is apparently required.

It is no less than a U-turn, indeed, as prospective economies such as Germany, France and Switzerland were more interested in keeping Greece within their fold, and the option of exiting was considered to be a failure of the unanimity at work. But now it seems Athens will be the second in the Union after London to have a solo way of its own, though on a despicable note of irresistibility. But the fact that Greece is struggling to assert its sovereignty over the dictated aid packages is an issue that few can bother to question logically. This is why centrifugal forces are at work in Athens to mobilise public opinion for pro-bailout parties, hoping that the ballot could come to resolve the stalemate. It’s still too Greek in Greece.