German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande met yesterday in Berlin, in what was kind of an awkward summit. But they did appear united on one point: that Greece must keep their promises and stay in the Eurozone. And that could drive Greece out.

On a day when Greece called for new elections, with serious implications for the European economy and the future of the euro, the other country with elections on May 6 swore in their new President. Francois Hollande came to power in France calling for a return to growth rather than a single-minded focus on debt reduction and austerity in Europe. He called his program a new pact

It’s official: Greece will hold new elections after the various parties could not work out an agreement on a government after the Parliamentary vote on May 6. President Karolos Papoulias made the news today in a statement. The new elections should be held in mid-June.

A variety of links to articles/interviews/speeches on current issues that may be of interest.

We’ll probably get the final word today, but I think it’s safe to say there will not be a Greek government forming out of the most recent elections. After the top three vote-getting parties each tried and failed to form a government, the Greek President made one last plea to amass a government of national unity among a clatch of parties. However, The Radical Coalition of the Left, or Syriza, never attended the talks.

A variety of links to articles/interviews/speeches on current issues that may be of interest.

A variety of links to articles/interviews/speeches on current issues that may be of interest.

The third-place party in the Greek elections, PASOK, has been given the opportunity to form a new government, after the first two parties failed in their efforts. Nobody expects PASOK to be successful, meaning that new elections will ensue, probably on June 17. By that time, decisions will need to be made on bailouts and budget cuts, and there will be no government in place to do it. This puts the bailout plan in significant peril, as well as Greece’s place in the eurozone.

A variety of links to articles/interviews/speeches on current issues that may be of interest.

The Greek public simply could not accept the forced depression they were being pushed into by their bailout masters, and the elections showed clearly that was over. So now the Germans are trying to talk themselves into the idea that Greece could exit the eurozone with no repercussions (for Germany).