Romney says U.S. won’t bailout Europe
IT was all suspense yesterday as the pro-bailout conservative party won Greece’s cliffhanger election against anti-austerity radical leftists and will hold a majority with the socialists.
A first official estimate indicated that the New Democracy won 29.5 per cent, giving it 128 seats in parliament, including the 50-seat boost given to the election winner – compared to a result of 27.1 per cent and 72 seats for the leftist Syriza.
The socialist Pasok won 12.3 per cent, which would give it 33 seats.
Earlier yesterday, the global focus was on Greece with anxiety as its voters went to the polling booths in what was termed as an opportunity to decide whether their heavily indebted country stays in the euro zone or is forced towards the exit, potentially unleashing shocks that could break up Europe’s single currency.
Syriza’s firebrand leader, Alexis Tsipras, had vowed that if he wins, he would tear up today an European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout deal that has given Greece a credit lifeline in exchange for harsh austerity.
“We have conquered fear. Today, we open a path to hope, to a better future,” Tsipras said yesterday as he cast his ballot in a working-class district of Athens.
But New Democracy chief, Antonis Samaras, accused him of playing with fire and said the vote was a choice between keeping the euro or returning to the drachma, although he too argued that the terms of the bailout deal should be revised.
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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