The importance of allies
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has called for a political solution to the deadlock Greece has reached with its creditors in debt negotiations, likening the present-day situation to the country’s induction in the European Economic Community and later the eurozone.
There are, however, some significant differences between then and now. Those two historical milestones were achieved because Greece had powerful allies in Europe and was able to put a convincing case for its entry to the bloc’s leaders.
The Greek government today, by contrast, is lamentably isolated and has just a few fringe parties with little influence behind its cause.
The attacks by some of its officials against powerful international partners may have brought it some political gains, but these are exclusively limited to the domestic front.
When Constantine Karamanlis was fighting for Greece in Europe, he fought hard, often with brutal honesty, behind closed doors. But he never brought the drama to the people and always made sure to keep friends and allies of his government and the country close.
