From the very beginning of this crisis, which began as a sovereign debt crisis in Greece and has grown into a full blown crisis of the Eurozone (not least owing to the criminal mishandling of this crisis by The Frau and her coterie) Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission and one of the prongs of the so called troika, has never once set foot in Athens.
Since his job description is President of the European Commission and all that that entails, this does seem like rather an inexplicable omission. Nevertheless he is due to grace us here in Athens with his presence today! Why? One has to wonder. What on earth has come over the boy? In any case shouldn’t he be setting off for his holidays like The Frau and little Wolfie while Europe burns? Sort of like last year. Are they going to make a habit of this?
Anyhow, Barroso is paying a visit to Athens. In person. Not via conference call or skype or anything else. Why? Some say he is coming to mouth the usual meaningless platitudes of yes, we will support Greece and yes we want Greece in the Euro, PROVIDED she sticks to the MoU! That is the plan that ensures the complete destruction of the Greek Economy and the eventual exit from the Euro, whether a meaningless ‘extension’ is given or not.
Would there be any point in that? I don’t think so. But this is Barroso who only does as he is told, so maybe it is just that. Another rumour going round is that he will come to insist on a complete restructuring of the Greek state, civil service etc. Now, if that were true it would be an excellent sign. Of at last, the troika nuts are beginning to get it! But this would have to entail a complete change of the austerity strangulation too. But that does not seem very likely.
Of course not! Were we to concede such an outrageous change for Greece, says The Frau, then all the vassals will be clamouring for same! And that will never do. The rules are the rules and they have to be followed. And who sets the rules? Well we do of course! The bullies on the block! And the weaklings had better cringe or else! So that does not seem very likely.
The last rumour going round is that he is coming to state perhaps the obvious. This plan is unworkable. There is no way Greece can keep up this charade of trying to implement The Frau’s Nonsense Economics. We wouldn’t have given a damn except that the point things have reached, Greece is simmering on the brink of a great social explosion which could lead anywhere. Given the outrage in Spain, this could indeed be contagious, and what we don’t want is European Revolution of uncontrollable proportions.
So? So, well we thought you might like to consider leaving the Euro altogether of your own accord. And to this effect we shall make you an offer you cannot refuse. Either continue to destroy your economy at a growing rate (remember GDP is forecast to fall by another 7% this year and that is their forecast which always falls short), and incur insurrections, social turmoil, blood in the streets, or else leave the Euro and we will give you a hand out and write down a good part of your debt.
That would be a good reason for Barroso’s visit, and would indeed make such a visit necessary. It would also vindicate Herr Rossler who may not just be making populist noises to gain votes. And perhaps all he has been culpable of is letting the cat out of the bag prematurely before the Grand Inquisitor so he can reap the electoral benefits!
However, judging by Europe’s that is Germany’s way of handling things to date, that probably is not on the cards. Yet. Still, I cannot foresee which of all the above it may be, or even if any of the above. Still for him to bother to make the visit at all after ignoring the festering problem for so long, one would like to hope that there will be some real substance to the visit and not just more hot air. Which will only help stoke the raging fire even more.