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After Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras signed an agreement with eurozone creditors earlier this week, everyone across the political spectrum has voiced an opinion about the deal.
Many critized Tsipras for giving in to the damning EU terms and conditions, while others demonized Germany for blackmailing Tsipras into accepting their demands, leading to the creation of the hashtag #ThisIsACoup, which has been trending on Twitter.
While the economic details of this deal are expected to take a drastic toll on the Greek people and its economy, the deal itself was not so much about economics but politics. This was made clear with the commentary coming from leading politicians, academics, journalists and concerned citizens, both on the right and the left.
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The bullying of Greece is nothing to do with economics or debt; its about politics, the making of a permanent austerity EU. #ThisIsACoup
— Philippe Marlière (@PhMarliere)
July 14, 2015
European creditors must be aware that Spain, Ireland and Portugal – other heavily indebted European nations – are all facing general elections this year, the former two with very popular anti-austerity parties. It is clear that what happens with Greece will lay the foundation for future debt and austerity deals with other European nations.
Top 5 Quotes From Greek Supporters
Former Greece Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said: “This has nothing to do with economics. It has nothing to do with putting Greece back on the rails towards recovery. This is a new Versailles Treaty that is haunting Europe again, and the prime minister knows it. He knows that he’s damned if he does and he’s damned if he doesn’t … In the [1967] coup d’état the choice of weapon used in order to bring down democracy then was the tanks. Well, this time it was the banks.”
Pablo Echenique, a regional deputy of Spanish anti-austerity party Podemos and a former member of the European Parliament, told the media: “What they are trying to do in Greece is launch a financial coup d’Etat and convert it into a protectorate ... There is no European solidarity."
Christian Odendahl and John Springford from the Centre for European Reform said, “Germany’s strategy is clear: impose harsh conditions on any government that seeks to change the austere rules of the game, knowing that electorates in Greece and elsewhere are terrified of the leap into the unknown that would be exit from the euro.”
Catarina Martins, leader of the Portuguese anti-capitalist party Left Bloc, said, “This is not an agreement, it has been imposed ... Democracy has been completely swept aside to make way for the colonial-style impositions.”
Barbara Lochbihler, a member of the European Parliament for Germany’s Greens party, tweeted her disgust with the German proposal:
They talk about trust. Only to draft a proposal that is pure humiliation. Brilliant idea. #ThisIsACoup #EuroSummit #Shaeuble #Grexit
— Barbara Lochbihler (@blochbihler)
July 12, 2015
Top 5 Quotes in Support of European Creditor
Ewa Kopacz, Polish Prime Minister, said: "This is the price that Greece is paying for seven months of populist rule.”
Peter Kazimir, Slovak Finance Minister, tweeted, and subsequently deleted, a tweet that read: "Greece compromise we reached this morning is tough for Athens because it's the results of their "Greek Spring""
Diane Francis, Editor and Columnist for Canadian right-wing daily the National Post, let loose on Twitter with a number of tweets degrading the Greek people:
#Greeks act like rebellious and spoiled kids who hate their parents
— Diane Francis (@dianefrancis1)
July 7, 2015
#Germany doesn't deserve abuse it's gotten from the #Greek crybabies. Drag feet and held theirs to the fire this week, no banks shld open
— Diane Francis (@dianefrancis1)
July 6, 2015
European Union President Donald Tusk emphasized that the deal was important to maintain a unified Europe, saying it "brings back trust among European partner.” He added the new pact has "strict conditions" but it also brings Greece "back on track with its European partners."
British Chancellor George Osborne showed his lard-line stance against any bailout deals. "But let me be very clear. Britain is not in the euro, so the idea that British taxpayers are going to be on the line for this Greek deal is a complete non-starter. The euro zone needs to foot its own bill," he said.
