A publication of the conservative newspaper “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” outlines the political landscape in Greece, after the decision made for an early election of the President of the Republic.

The author speaks of “Samaras’ escape forward”, estimating that “With the Presidential election, the Greek PM tries to secure a tactical advantage”.  However, Alexis Tsipras’ leftist party of protest, SYRIZA, is ahead in the polls”. As FAZ mentions, it will be difficult for SYRIZA to implement social promises.

On the one hand, Tsipras and SYRIZA would depend on the goodwill of markets and European partners if they wanted to negotiate a serious impairment of Greek debt, raise pensions and salaries of civil servants, introduce generous social benefits; all this would come only with more borrowing.