Der Spiegel’s
interesting piece on Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras:
“The people's love
of Tsipras has turned into anger. Because of their diminishing salaries,
air-traffic controllers, doctors and teachers are standing up to the
government. About four weeks ago, retirees tried to topple the police buses,
their faces full of anger and disappointment. When police officers drove the
seniors back with tear gas, an outcry swept across the country: Hadn't Tsipras
promised that things like this would never happen again, they asked?
Alexis Tsipras, the
rebel, and his left-wing Syriza Party took power in January 2015 with the
purpose of ending the austerity program and giving the Greeks their dignity
back. He wanted to negotiate a reduction in Greece's debts and he called for an
end to austerity policies. After his election, people danced in the streets.
In the time that
has lapsed since, however, Tsipras has broken most of his promises. In August
2015, he accepted a third relief program from the creditors, and received
billions in exchange for Greek spending cuts. Now he's raising taxes, cutting
pensions, selling airports and ports. The Greek economy is still in dire
straits, the unemployment rate is at 24 percent and further savings measures
are still to come.”