Elections In Greece -- Yet Again: If In Doubt, Vote Dogmatically, Against Someone Else (to pull his nose), or just Follow Your Heart

I have been trying to understand why it is in Greece that elections are a much like a football game, where serious issues do not really count, the nation doesn't really count, what is better or worse for said nation doesn't really count...

In other words, a critically large portion of voters in Greece do not vote rationally at all!

How is this?

There are two-three points which makes sense out of this erratic and nationally self-destructive behaviour -- i.e. to be partisan behind politicians who have demonstrably sunk the country, and OR have abundantly demonstrated they are grossly incapable of performing any job, let alone running a country.

1st: Greeks vote left-wing for emotional reasons, because their "heart is on the left" or simply because such is their "style" mostly new-romantic.  Typical image of the "girl offering a policeman the rose". Any other consideration -- policy, proposed measures, etc -- does not enter the picture at all.
Then there are those that vote their personal choice of "left"because that is right thing. This vote is dogmatic.
Coming to think of it, the politicians representing most "left" wing parties are as dogmatic and intolerant as their religious counterparts in the middle ages.

2nd: Greeks voting sort-of right wing are pragmatist. They believe in what politicians are supposed to represent: free enterprise,  conservatism, EU membership... the usual "democratic" freedoms espoused in the wealthy countries of first world. The fact that these politicians have fallen short of implementing their convictions when in action does not daunt these voters. "Other choices are even worse", they say.

3rd There is the spattering of Greeks who choose to vote AGAINST someone, come what may. These are easily swayed one way or another by anyone who has the knack of manipulating Greek voters correctly; the erstwhile premier of the 80s Mr A. Papandreou (now deceased) was masterful in this. The present, not as masterful leader of the deter-left party, a Mr Tsipras, is donning the style of the aforementioned Papandreou's to the fullest extent and to unparalleled success! The old ruse works!!

Of course there are those who simply vote for strict personal gain and get their hands in the till (see Pasok in recent years or Syriza now). But these alone do not an election win.*


So, elections in Greece in recent years are not about what is better or perceived as such for the country, nation: in fact Greeks are not hot about their "nation" believing for some strange reason that any reference to "nation" is a vestige of the right wing, which is definitely not trendy and generally unacceptable.

Elections in Greece are mostly about the three points above, and which one prevails - or combination thereof prevail.



Greeks are used to voting, after all democracy is a greek word as is the institution, both direct and indirect democracy. Greeks are also used to voting as a means to decide on issues and have been doing so for a few millennia already.

So, in the end, these elections are, yet again, all about having a bit of fun and tomorrow politicians will flock into the TV stations, well-connected market-research companies will have their 15 mins of free TV fame, and in particular, home delivery restaurants will do great business!


For anyone who is not Greek but knows and is interested in the country, it is all very charming and fun.
Woe betide those who are...





*Case in point: in the 2004 elections where a pragmatist and serious campaign led the centre-right party (Nea Democratia) to power by a very large marginby local standards). However that party did not act upon its promise and that was the last time Greeks voted with anything even remotely resembling common-sense.