Comments on the Greek referendum

From Alexander Mercouris

GREEK REFERENDUM

Results are pouring in and it is now a virtual certainty that the No vote has won conclusively. A 60/40 split is not impossible though it may narrow when we get the full results from Athens and Thessalonika.

A few brief observations:

1. The claim that because of the clunkily worded question on the ballot paper people in Greece don't know what they are voting for is nonsense. This is a highly politicised society and the overwhelming majority of those who voted No understood that they were voting against the latest IMF-EU offer.

2. The trend of opinion in Greece is now becoming clear. Half a year ago Syriza won the election with just 36% of the vote. On a higher turnout its stance is now getting the backing of perhaps as many as 60% of those who voted.

Cutting liquidity to the Greek banks so as to force a banking crisis and the EU's transparent attempts to overthrow Syriza are provoking a backlash and are consolidating support around it.

3. According to some reports the No campaign may have got the support of as many as 80% of Greek voters under 35 - putting paid to any possibility of a colour revolution in Greece at least in the immediate term - I hardly need to explain why a colour revolution is impossible in a country where the young would so overwhelmingly and indeed passionately oppose it.

4. Perhaps more important for the future of the Greece than the overall result is some of the individual votes in specific regions. Traditional right wing strongholds in western Macedonia, parts of the Peloponnesos, Thrace and parts of Athens are voting No.

There are reports that the former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was warned before the vote by high ranking party insiders that the conservative New Democracy party he leads could go the same way as PASOK if it doesn't change course. As of now that is starting to look possible. 

5. The Murdoch media were reporting that the Greek military were being put on alert to deal with street protests presumably in the event of a Yes vote and Syriza's dismissal

This dog is saying "Vote NO!"

Greek army and police prepare for street battles

I do not know whether these reports were true. They could have been scaremongering.

6. To those who believed that Tsipras called the referendum because he was planning to hide behind a Yes vote to justify capitulating to the IMF-EU, that has turned out to be completely wrong.

Tsipras is still talking about negotiating with the IMF-EU. If he is planning a capitulation after a No vote then he is toast.