Germany: Should the Greeks be rewarded?
Greek voters heeded Germany's advice and elected the two sanest parties to parliament.
“Drachmageddon” has been averted, said Paul Ronzheimer and Andreas Thewalt in Bild, “but europocalypse has not.” Our newspaper reminded the Greeks before this week’s parliamentary vote that their ATMs continue spewing out euros “only because we, the Germans, put them there.” If they wanted more bailout money, they couldn’t vote an “extreme-left or extreme-right idiot” into office. Fortunately, the warning was heeded. The next Greek government will be a coalition of the two sanest parties, the conservative New Democracy party and the socialist PASOK. But the markets are jittery, and many analysts think the euro is still in trouble.
That’s because the incoming government hardly inspires confidence, said Bettina Vestring in the Frankfurter Rundschau. The winner, New Democracy’s Antonis Samaras, never laid out a convincing reform plan—he won because he promised Greeks he would lower taxes, raise benefits, and still somehow keep Greece in the euro. “Anyone in Greece’s situation who gives such promises is either stupid or malicious, and anyone who believes them is blind.” That’s why Chancellor Angela Merkel is right to ignore her domestic rivals clamoring for some kind of encouraging signal from Germany to Greece, such as giving it more time to implement reforms. Rewarding Samaras’s platform would send the wrong message, particularly now that the European Union will soon start negotiating another rescue package for the Greeks. If Germany rashly gives out goodies now, the Greeks will simply assume “there’s a lot more to be had.”
The Greeks still “lack insight into their plight,” said Michael Martens in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. No Greek politician is willing to stand up and speak the hard truth: that Greece is still running an annual budget deficit, even after abolishing the “now notorious” 13th, 14th, and in some cases 15th month of yearly wages that many civil servants were getting. If the Greeks are to change their ways, they will need a government that presents reform as being in Greece’s interest, not as something “imposed by vicious foreigners”—which is how they think of the Germans.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It is precisely this resurgence of timeworn stereotypes that underscores why we need to cut Greece a little slack, said Roland Nelles in Der Spiegel. The debate over the euro has revived “all the old prejudices” that the project of a common union and a common currency was meant to quell. “Simmering beneath the political surface, the yokels, the know-it-alls, and other small minds are organizing against Europe.” If the Greeks need more time to reform, and a little more help, we should work with them. For in doing so, we aren’t just saving Greece, we are saving Europe.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published