Syriza finds right-wing ally to form Greek government

[FrodosPet]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102367100#.

A victorious left-wing Syriza is poised to form a coalition government with an unlikely ally: the right-wing Independent Greeks party.

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Syriza's leader Alexis Tsipras was sworn in as prime minister on Monday. The announcement followed a statement from the right-wing – and also anti-austerity -- Independent Greeks party that it had struck a deal to form a governing alliance with Syriza.

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"It's ultimately going to be much more difficult to figure out exactly what policies they will ultimately agree on," Petros Doukas, former deputy finance minister of Greece, told CNBC Monday morning.

He said that it would likely be difficult for Syriza and the Independent Greeks – coming from the left and right of the political spectrum – to agree on policy.

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[FrodosPet]

1. Greece anti-bailout leader Tsipras made prime minister

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30981950

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What unites Greece's new coalition partners is fierce opposition to budget cuts. Alexis Tsipras and Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos are anti-bailout to the core, frequently hitting out at the architects of austerity in Berlin and Brussels and pledging a new economic path. But that is where their common ground ends. In other areas, the two are unlikely bedfellows.

One is a socially liberal leftist, lambasting the "old faces" of Greek politics. The other is a hardline right-winger on issues such as immigration - and has been around in previous governments for some time. So why would Syriza join forces with Independent Greeks?

Possibly because others refused - or were deemed too soft on the bailout. The River, a new, broadly centrist party which some expected to be the coalition partner, made clear it opposed Syriza's hard rhetoric towards Berlin.

The problem for Mr Tsipras is that many of his own supporters revile Mr Kammenos's conservatism and will be frustrated by the choice. And disappointing his supporters, to whom he has pledged so much, is not something Greece's new prime minister wants to repeat.

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[Wellstone ruled]

2. Today Greece Tomorrow Spain.

2016 USA.

[FrodosPet]

3. Imagine if the U.S. Green Party joined up with the John Birch society

I am sure there is a better simile, but nevertheless, Greece is in a very interesting, somewhat bizarre place politically.