“Is Tsipras a demagogue or are the people stupid?” is the rhetorical – and thoroughly provocative — question asked by Munich university history professor Michael Wolffsohn, whose article appeared in the mass daily Handelsblatt.

“…We’re once again reliving, the almost classical … ancient and new ambiguity of democracy itself. We’re seeing the light and shadow of democracy. Just as in ancient Athens, now in modern Athens with (Greek PM Alexis) Tsipras demonstrating the advantages and weaknesses of democracy,” Herr professor writes, adding:

“The advantages are obvious, just as the weaknesses. Despite these, there are no better rules. Democracy – in contrast to what is being said – is not an ideology, but a consensus,” Wolffsohn writes, before warning of demagoguery.

It wasn’t the first time that the daily has hosted inflammatory language against the Greek side.