With the recent focus on Spain and the steps the ECB is taking in this regard, Greece has been left on the sidelines. With the return of the troika to Athens, it seems that the debt struck country cannot stay in the shadows for too long.
European Council Herman Van Rompuy will lead the troika delegation which will check out Greece’s new austerity measures, but these are causing troubles within the coaltion.
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is facing a demand from both junior coalition parties that are demanding a meeting on austerity before this is presented to the troika.
Former Greek finance minister and leader of PASOK Evangelos Venizelos is trying to show the public that he has influence over the government’s moves. Recent opinion polls show that his party is suffering from new drops in popularity. The party that won a landslide victory in 2009 was relegated to the third place in 2012 and ranks lower at the moment.
Anti austerity left wing SYRIZA is in the lead, followed by Samaras’s ND and the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn is third. Ongoing misery pushes voters from the mainstream parties to the extremes.
Further reading:Â 973 Greek islands (or more) could go on sale
The critical event for Greece will be the EU Summit on October 18-19.
