Two weeks ago the Greek people showed their disappointment and anger by voting at the ballot against the austerity measures and the memorandum in the national elections held on the 6 of May.
The two parties, New Democracy and PASOK, which voted and supported the memorandum copped a backlash from its voters. The peoples’ ballot showed they did not have confidence in any particular party. Many voters were displeased and very annoyed by the constant promises and rhetoric that made many voters opt to vote for smaller political parties like SYRIZA, Democratic Left and Independent Greeks. Many voters had simply had enough of hearing the same old promises and policies over and over again that they completely turned their backs on the ballot on Election Day.

Unfortunately, after ten days of deliberations and delegations, the elected political parties and their leaders, along with the President of Greece, were unable to come to an agreement to form a coalition government. The politicians are embroiled in micro-politics and egotistical games, each trying to prove their worthiness of being the next Prime-minister.

These small minded political games being displayed by the various politicians served no purpose and are a detriment to the people of Greece and the nation itself. On the other hand the European Union and the IMF have made threatening demands that Greece follows the memorandum. Otherwise, Greece will not be able to fulfil its agreement and be made to pull out of the European Union.

This, in turn, could result in huge repercussions in world financial markets and deepen the recession in Europe and around the world.
Not one candidate during the campaign was able to offer a future goal or a plan for the country and its people. Not one politician was able to give some glimmer of hope to those burdened by tough fiscal policies handed down by the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank otherwise known as TROIKA.

The main objective of each candidate was to sling mud at his or her opponents just to bolster more votes. Important issues and policies, which should have been on the agenda, were not discussed. There was no political discussion on reducing unemployment nor was there any discussion about how the country and its people could create and stimulate economic growth. These discussions were avoided just to minimize the loss of voters and valuable votes at the ballot during Election Day.
The illegal immigrants debate was regarded an important focal point during the political campaigning period. All political parties branded all the illegal immigrants as one of the main contributing factors as to why the country was on the brink of economic collapse.

These people who left their own impoverished countries seeking refuge, in search of a brighter future in Greece a cordial country, only to find their host country and a minority of its people blaming them for Greece’s economic woes; which has also seen a sharp rise in attacks against them by members of the neo-Nazi party, Golden Dawn. Golden Dawn was voted into the Greek Parliament.
In tough economic times, during the 30s when Europe was going through a depression, many people moved towards these extreme right parties.

In difficult economic times people become ultra-nationalistic and radicalised who in turn create stereotypes and scapegoats for their country’s failures and woes. This behaviour is currently evident in many other countries in the European Union too. If the Euro-zone were to capitulate, then these extreme-right wing parties will further flourish.

In the upcoming Greek elections, which will be held in the June, the Golden Dawn extreme right-wing party needs to be quickly ousted from parliament. Let’s not forget the thousands of Greek people who lost their lives at Distomo and Kalavryta at the hands of the Nazis during their occupation of Greece in the Second World War. It is an injustice to all those men, women and children who lost their lives trying to liberate Greece from the fascist regime that we now have people in the Greek society embracing fascism, even here in Australia! It is downright disgraceful and disrespectful to our history and democratic principles.

Some major issues overlooked by the Greek politicians in the recent elections, were the ever rising unemployment figures which are close to 22 per cent (youth unemployment hovering above 50 per cent), families not being able to afford to buy their basic needs with inflationary essentials like petrol and utility outgoings having risen sharply, and much needed medication for the elderly is far too expensive and scarce in hospitals and medical centres. There is human suffering and outlaid poverty in all the major cities of Greece. This proportion of poverty has never been seen since the years during the Nazi occupation in the Second World War. Another major concern is the large rise in suicide rates in the country.

According to various sources, these figures have doubled from around 2.8 per cent per 100,000 inhabitants to around 6 per cent per 100,000 inhabitants. Still very low compared to Finland’s 36 per cent per 100,000 inhabitants. Many people in Greece have taken their own lives due to the tough austerity and fiscal policies imposed on them.
The political stalemate and uncertainty observed these last couple of weeks would have been averted if the Greeks living abroad were given the right to vote in these recent elections.

The majority of Greeks living abroad would have been able to exercise their voting rights and the country would have at least created a government by the extra votes obtained from abroad.

The Greeks of the Diaspora definitely need to push this issue further and they definitely need to have this matter readdressed so that action can be taken by the upcoming government in Greece.
In these very difficult and testing times that Greece and its people are going through, we the Greeks of the diaspora need to show solidarity by offering immediate help to our fellow countrymen and women.

We need to act now and we need to stop being apathetic bystanders to this unfolding tragedy. We need to show empathy and compassion more than ever. Our brothers and sisters in Greece need us more than ever before.

We cannot allow another suicide to eventuate because he or she has no money to feed their family, we cannot allow another child to starve to death or to allow another elderly person to be evicted from their home.
We the Greek diaspora need to act now by offering our help and support!