June 24, 2011
Greek Prime Minister Giorgios Papandreou has become immensely unpopular back home. But at the European Union summit in Brussels on Thursday evening, EU leaders offered him their unwavering support. Opposition leader Antonis Samaras, for his part, was heavily criticized.
Greek Prime Minister Giorgios Papandreou was notably silent during dinner in the European Council building in Brussels on Thursday night. Everything, after all, had already been said. As the European Union summit began, he had been hoping for yet another clear indication that the EU was completely supportive of Greece -- and he got what he wanted.
The 27 EU heads of government and state granted their approval for a second aid package for Greece -- on the condition that Papandreou, 59, and his socialists are able to push yet another austerity package through the Greek parliament on June 28.
At their traditional meeting prior to the summit, conservative heads of state and government turned up the pressure on the conservative head of the Greek opposition, Antonis Samaras. He has presented himself as a staunch opponent of further austerity measures in Greece -- and should he be successful in torpedoing the package in next week's vote, it could very well lead to a cessation of foreign aid payments to Athens and the insolvency of his country. The consequences for the European common currency and for the global economy would be immense.
The debate among the conservatives was unusually passionate. Diplomacy was set aside, and Samaras was left in no doubt that his European colleagues were furious with the course he has chosen to chart. One leader spoke of his positive experiences with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and suggested that Samaras follow its advice. Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said that "it is very important that no Greek political leader tells the Greek people that they have a shortcut."
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