Greece Braces For Strikes Ahead of Polls

Inquiring minds scoff at the preposterous Financial Times headline a ‘Glimmer of hope’ for Greek coalition A coalition that last until 2014 before new elections will be nothing more than years more of useless torture. Here are a few snips from the Financial Times.

Greek default drama is much like the movie Groundhog Day. If you prefer a quote from Yogi Berra instead, then please consider It's déjà vu all over again. Every day for weeks we have heard a "deal is close". Moreover, on multiple occasions at the end of the week we were informed Greece "had" to reach agreement over the weekend or Greece would default. Let's hope this time someone really means it.

It's been a while since the Syntagma square riotcam was broadcasting live from Athens. After all, despite the ongoing collapse in its economy, where only 3.7 million people have jobs compared to 4.7 million who are unemployed or inactive, the general sentiment was that "austerity" measures have been put on hiatus, and no more tax, pension, or benefits cuts are on the table.

Greek elections are set for June 17th following the impasse of the last election where no majority government formed. The "Destroy Greece to Save the Euro" clowns led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel are out in force hoping to turn the vote into a direct referendum on the Euro. The election is of course a direct referendum on the Euro, but Greek citizens are under three Fantasyland ideas. Three Fantasyland Ideas

I keep pleading for someone, anyone to put Greece out of its misery. Greek voters have a chance on May 6th to do just that. Please consider Greek ruling parties to get wafer-thin majority The two main parties in Greece's ruling coalition would together get just a one-seat majority in parliament if elections were held now, a poll showed on Thursday, less than three weeks before the May 6 vote.

In spite of all the huffing and puffing and bluffing, once again the Greek puppets will likely dance to the strings of the Troika and pass austerity measures required for Greece to get the next tranche of money. Unions, lawyers, pensioners, and workers in general are not pleased with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and have planned a major series of strikes. I expect violence if Samaras musters the votes to pass the bills. There is likely to be violence before the vote as well.

I am amused by the Financial Times headline Tsipras shrugs off gaffe about Hollande. When Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek socialist leader, boarded a 7.30am flight to Paris on Tuesday, only his closest aides knew he was on the way to a hastily arranged meeting with the French president.

Not only Greece but also Europe braced on Saturday for an election that polls indicate will decimate the two main parties and fail to produce a clear winner, sparking market fears about fresh eurozone turmoil.In comments widely quoted by Greek newspapers on the eve of Sunday's vote, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said that if Greece's new government deviated from its commitments the country would have to "bear the consequences."