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First quick reaction to the latest developments in Greece.
Syriza going into a coalition with the right-wing Independent Greeks ANEL party is a huge mistake.It undermines the whole project of the radical Syriza party, and is a kick in the teeth for those who voted for it.
The Independent Greeks are a nationalist, anti-immigrant split from the conservative New Democracy that Syriza has just beaten and removed from office. ANEL received just 4.75% of the vote and has 13 deputies. Despite its small size and level of support it will be a block on any radical social policies and act as a cancer inside the government, poisoning everything Syriza tries to do. The playback that will be demanded on social policies for the support of ANEL will not be pleasant to watch.
It is likely that the Syriza leadership will use the coalition party ANEL as an excuse for reneging on some of its policies and some in the Syriza leadership may well welcome that, as it will allow them to argue that they can't go as far as they would want.
After such a resounding result, today it doesn't look so good. I didn't expect the disappointment to begin so quickly.
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