New York Times Suggests Greece May be Heading Toward Civil War

The New York Times estimate in their editorial that: “The further rise of SYRIZA and Golden Dawn can lead the country into civil war.”

The article, signed by Nikos Konstantaras, columnist for the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, begins by commenting on the double execution in Neo Iraklio. “It is hard to imagine many other countries—especially mature Western democracies—where the murder of two rank-and-file members of a relatively small political party could raise serious fears of political instability and national division.”

According to the article, the murder of Pavlos Fyssas marked the end of the party’s immunity, since neither the government nor the police, nor the judiciary seemed to want to move against them. The murder of the two Golden Dawn members in November was considered an act of revenge, and police believe it was carried out by far-left terrorists, successors of “November 17.”

The New York Times said that New Democracy and PASOK, will down vote in the European Parliament Elections and thus pave the way for early national elections. “The crisis, and the measures aimed at combating it, have resulted in high unemployment (28%), a steep drop in gross domestic product (28% from 2008), higher taxes, lower incomes, fewer benefits, widespread insecurity, and a loss of faith in the political system–democratic institutions and even in the European Union.” It adds that the opposition parties have gained many followers by promising to restore everything that was lost during the austerity and reform period. If the polls are correct, SYRIZA and Golden Dawn will be even more reinforced.

The article concludes with fears of a new civil war in Greece. “We might see what seemed impossible until recently: a new round of civil strife after decades of peace and progress. Though a descent into political violence is not imminent, the scene is set in a way that depends too much on what fools with guns will choose to do.”