The Return of the ''Left'': Observations from a Tumultuous Week in Greek Politics

The new government is clearly stating its European focus and determination to stay in the union of Europe. The big challenge is how the new government will ensure the continuation of payments by the creditors and at the same time the re-negotiation of the terms without asking for a write-off.
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A new reality for Greece was being moulded within days after the elections. The biggest bet was not who would win the elections, but what the new government would do afterwards. Syriza and its coalition with a small right nationalist party (Independent Greeks) preaches the end of austerity for Greece and a shift to Europe- related policies - not by a big bang - but change through dialogue and a new perspective. Not the democratic slap to the face of Europe as Marine Le Pen described it. That would be too provocative.

The new government structure has many fewer ministries than the previous ones, whereas the prime minister is atheist in a nation that is close to 96% Christian Orthodox - an element that Greeks wouldn't easily accept some years ago.

At the same time, for the first time in modern history, the outgoing Prime Minister Mr Samaras did not attend the handover ceremony at a time when the nation needed solidarity and awareness of personal responsibility for the current plight. The new parliament doesn't have a ''Papandreou'' in it after 92 years. The ex-prime minister (whose father and grandfather also served as prime ministers) didn't manage to get elected with his new party. At the same time his former leading party (PASOK) came last and barely managed to enter the new parliament. The election also spells the end of an oligarchic democracy that has ruled Greece for many decades where a small number of political families gathered a lot of power.

It seems that Mr Alexis Tsipras has made a dynamic entrance to a state that five years ago could never have been imagined. The new government is clearly stating its European focus and determination to stay in the union of Europe. The big challenge is how the new government will ensure the continuation of payments by the creditors and at the same time the re-negotiation of the terms without asking for a write-off.

Will Europe and the Troika sustain its strong position against any renegotiation or are we already experiencing a change towards milder approaches in order to keep the markets safe? It seems that politics affects economics more than what economics used to affect politics - up until recently. Mr Obama, in his call to the new Greek prime minster, emphasised that Europe should abandon the policies of austerity and explore different ways to development and stability. Many voices are now being heard whispering of a first step to turn around European ''financial suppression '' as critics call it. Northern European governments clearly state that they want a strong European Union with Greece in it - but the question is whether they are prepared to make any steps back or to accept the risk of a Grexit.

In a similar vein, the first actual mini conflict with the EU came when the new government did not fully support the sanctions against Russia. After all, it was Mr Putin who was one of the first to congratulate Mr Tsipras on his election. Moreover, many new Greek MPs are in favour of enhancing financial and commercial relationships with Russia. Could this also mean a major turn in international affairs that could compromise Europe's position or even start to shape it towards another direction? On an opposite perspective, many argue that the EU is not a big brother and every nation should be entitled to protect its own benefits. These kinds of actions reveal many potential risks - and opportunities.

One thing is for certain, that the new government wants to wake up Greece from its financial coma and although inexperienced they do want to make a change. This of course involves a lot of risks, with many quick to offer arguments on why Greece will fail once more. Europe is a union of economies, yes, but also a unique mix of diverse philosophies and cultures so different that many still argue they shouldn't be put together. If we experience a Grexit then it would be time to think whether the bigger EU experiment starts to fail.

Contrary to certain points of view, it will not be a Greek crisis contagion spreading to other members in the 18 country bloc like Italy, Spain and Portugal. It will be the first sign that EU members are beginning to think about going their separate ways in the hunt for economic growth and stability. One must not forget that there are many financial and political crises amongst EU members, many might have their roots in the early rules and structures aimed to bring diverse nations together. Solidarity though is still the prevailing dogma that ensures stability and development, elements that all members are seeking.

To the Greeks, the new Greek government promises stability and development with a more social approach in politics and investments. But will Europe and its leaders accept a more ''leftist'' mentality to keep the Union or will Mr Tsipras fall back on his initial pre-election statements? Let's hope that the reality will lie somewhere in the middle, that Europe will keep its unity and that Greeks will once more contribute to the development of a new sustainable paradigm. Playing the Grexit scenario seems to be a war game that is not beneficial for any side. Careful strategy is needed from all sides for a new dynamic equilibrium for tomorrow. The future of Greece and broader European stability is the much bigger potential nightmare at stake.