Greek, French and Egyptian voters went to the polls today. In what
was supposed to be a turning point for Egyptian democracy, voters turned
out in small numbers to cast their ballots for the Muslim or
establishment candidate. They well understood the military had assumed
control and the election was meaningless. In Europe, Greek voters
remained evenly divided between the center-right and the Left, which
promised to jettison the austerity of the Euro bailout agreement.
Although preliminary results suggest that a pro-Euro coalition may
achieve a fragile majority, it is sure that Greece will continue to
muddle along from crisis to crisis. Europe needed clarity but got more
confusion. The Greeks did not vote to leave the Euro, and no one wants
to be responsible for pushing them out. Greek voters reckon that Europe
will bail them out unconditionally rather than risk Greece’s departure
from the Euro. Quite a gamble, but it may be a winning bet.
In France, electors gave their new socialist president Hollande a
solid parliamentary majority to support his pro-stimulus and pro-welfare
state policies. With two elections out of the way, attention turns
tomorrow to Mexico where the G-20 leaders can pontificate and agree on
general principles while deciding nothing.
Sunday’s votes took place against the drumbeat of blaming Germany for
all that ails the Euro zone. If only the miserly, self-centered Germans
would lend a helping hand to their deserving neighbors, all these
troubles would go away. The blame-Germany narrative gives the weak
European countries an excuse for not taking tough action, and the facts
show that Germany’s stingy reputation is undeserved.
go to forbes.com
Dr. Gregory's latest book can be found at Amazon.com.
greek has troubles right now
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