This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

Greek President (And Nazi Resistance Fighter) Lashes Out At "German Boot" For Pushing Country To The Brink

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 02/15/2012 17:28 -0400

The following extract from a Bloomberg article suggests that the German mission of getting Greece to file for bankruptcy on its own, thus removing the perception that Europe has given up on the first (of many) terminal patient, own has almost succeeded. "Greek President Karolos Papoulias slammed Germany’s finance minister for recent comments about his country as stalled bailout talks stoked tensions between Greece and the northern European countries funding its rescue. “I don’t accept insults to my country by Mr. Schaeuble,” Papoulias, who fought in the resistance against the Nazis during World War II, said in a speech today. “I don’t accept it as a Greek. Who is Mr. Schaeuble to ridicule Greece? Who are the Dutch? Who are the Finns? We always had the pride to defend not just our own freedom, not just our own country, but the freedom of all of Europe."

Papoulias’s comments came as Wolfgang Schaeuble and other European officials pushed Greece to gouge more cuts out of its budget to qualify for a new bailout that would stave off an economic collapse. Schaeuble today blamed Greece’s New Democracy party, the second largest, for holding up agreement on a new rescue package and his deputy, Steffen Kampeter, compared Greece to a “bottomless pit.”

Greek politicians are expressing their frustration after European finance ministers last week rejected a Greek austerity package worth 7 percent of gross domestic product. That prompted New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras to complain that a gun was being held to the country’s head. George Karatzaferis, head of Laos, the third party in the governing coalition, said the country “could do without the German boot.”

Since we assume that Mr. Papoulias has had the chance to travel around Europe and to actually familiarize himself with both Netherlands and Finland, not to mention Germany whom he fought in WW2, it is safe to say his was a rhetorical question. To which a rhetorical answer may be due: "they are the ones who have been providing funding to Greece for the past two years." Granted that funding may not have gotten where it was supposed to but that is only due to two things: i) corruption and ii) stupidity on behalf of the local politicians - the same ones tasked with looking after the interests of their own people. Because nobody else will.

Seen in this light, Mr. Papoulias sacrifice to stop his €300k a year salary is a little naive and, well, too little too late.

Alas, Greece should have down what we said back in early 2010 - default, and let the chips fall where they may. In that way it would have been like Iceland, and already on the way to recovery. Instead it chose the cowardly way out, and to bend over backwards to the global banker consortium. Now it can reap what it sow, with or without meaningless populist speeches.

- advertisements -

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 20:02 | 2164099 Peter Pan

The blame for what is happening to Greece cuts across politics, economics, attitudes, nations, bankers and globalisation. It is far too complex to apportion blame and even more difficult to share the cost between the participants. Therefore, a default may be messy but it will at least flush the system with reality. Debtors will begin to live within their means and creditors will get on with business as usual instead of barking and forever pretending that their bad debts should be paid by the man on the street (literally).

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 20:02 | 2164101 The Reich

Speech from the grave? He is actually supposed to be dead already, no?

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 20:38 | 2164199 nicxios

First of all, Papoulias was born in 1929. So he was the great resistance fighter at the age of 12?!

Papoulias tried this same line here in Greece and was ridiculed. He disappeared from the media eye since that embarrassing display in the October "oxi" day parade. People were incensed with his comments on the protests all over the country, that's when he pulled out the "resistance figher" line.

We don't buy what he's selling here in Greece. We see right through his act. He's trying to get back into the good graces of the Greek people. FAIL. He doesn't even care that he makes us look bad, but I don't expect anything less from the sociopaths running the country.

I'm glad you brought this to everyone's attention Tyler, because this guy deserves to get ridiculed globally. Just wanted to flesh the story out a little more for you and all the readers.

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 07:12 | 2165212 Sandmann

but Papoulias has law degrees from Cologne and Munich so he knows how to engage in Doublethink and Newspeak

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 20:55 | 2164250 Silberadler

Gents,

as a German citizen I am stunned and appalled by the discussion and the degree of prejudice from either side.

Alas - this is not the 'we solve the world's problem' discussion circle, neither do I expect any sweet talk.

What kept me coming back to ZH reading blog posts and the comments, was the biting sarcastic and sometimes extremely ironic way of commenting. Kudos to all posters here.

But this thread.... Dunno. really.

Would be really nice (and perhaps polie !?) if some individuals would reflect a bit more before posing their comment.

If what is posted here reflects what potentially may be backed by many more - gents: we're screwed.

This will lead nowhere.

Where has common sense evaporated to ?

My greek neigbours from just across the street shake their heads just as much as I do on the events that are unfolding.They also shake their heads at what they hear and read about the Greek govenrment, guess just as much as the Greek citizens in Greece. They have been fooled and we have been fooled.

All European citizens have been fooled and betrayed.

On my travels to France, Italy, Spain and other countries I met a lot of folks who basically said the same (no matter which country) : The EURO sucks. It did not do any good. French folks are pissed just as much as the Italians and Spanish folks.

Oh and the US citizens - boy they will have another unpleasant wakeup from theit pink marshmallow dream. Wait until ther actually is a default triggering the CDS.

More bailout ? Who knows.

What we have now, also in view of the discussion above is exactly what TPTB wants.

Divide and Conquer.

So - when you point your finger at someone else - just keep this in mind.

Looks like they got us where they want us: at each other's throat.

C'mon guys - we're smarter - aren't we ?

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 21:55 | 2164424 ArrestBobRubin

Well mein freund, I sure know I am. See my comment below (written before I saw yours btw) and please forgive the extent of the ignorance and denial exhibited here. Germans are the least of anyones problem.

Jeez, what more do people need to see? Or need to have stolen, right from under their noses? Stolen. By those who aren't German. Or Islamic even...

Whatever punch they're serving, the shit's strong. And evidently, a lot of people can't handle their liquor. Pity the lightweights, they are forever lost in this world of deception.

Prost!

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 23:48 | 2164749 Bringin It

Funf-Mark-Stuecke - boy they will have another unpleasant wakeup from their pink marshmallow dream. LOL. Well put.

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 21:28 | 2164333 TRN

Mr Papoulias is trying to save his skin from the wrath of the Greek people.

Mr Papoulias and all 300 Greek politicians need to be tried for treason!

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 21:43 | 2164357 ArrestBobRubin

Let's see if this tough old bird has the stones to name, shame, fight and destroy the primary financial tormentors of all of Europe. Including Greece and Germany.

Keeping things in perspective Mr. P, can you please relay for the audience how many "Germans" were with the Goldman Sachs team who worked with Greek traitors like Mr. Papandreou to fudge your country's numbers to get Greece into the EU via blatant financial fraud? And thereby helped get Greece into this rather uncomfortable predicament you and your countrymen now face?

Was is really "the Germans" who've skull-f*cked poor Greece bro? Really?? C'mon, you can say...

Y'all beat the Persians. Y'all beat back the Nazis. Y'all can beat these scumbags too, but in order to defeat an enemy, first ya gotta correctly identify them on the battlefield. Gotta call 'em clearly out so the archers can mow 'em down in the open field.

Better get cracking there Mr. Tough Guy. These particular barbarians are about to put a flashy "Lloyd Blankfein's Parthenon" sign up on the thing...

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 05:17 | 2165170 Instant Wealth

Hmm .. war rethoric. At this point it gets funny. Perhaps, Greece should consider to form a union with a few other chauvinist states (Belarus, Serbia, Syria ?).

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 05:54 | 2165182 GreetingsFromGermany

The Germans, Dutch and Finns simply should stop feedings Greeks privat creditors and Greeks corrupt favoritism.

Within one month necessary reforms will be put into praxis - at both sides: Greeks and Creditors - without any discussion.

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 07:11 | 2165210 Sandmann

Germany should stop kow-towing to France whose Banks are knee-deep in crappy collateral they have dumped on Germany through the ECB. This is the same France that takes over German companies like Hoechst and merged them into Sanofi; or EADS, or how Siemens gets blocked in France but France gets to be monopoly supplier of nuclear reactors in Europe. Time for Germany to start using German in the EU Commission instead of French. Just why is French a requirement for any EU job but German isn't ? What makes France so special that the world revolves around its inadequacies ?

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 07:28 | 2165220 Ghordius

well, the French are a good bridge between a lot of cultures, including between Germans and the Spaniards and the Italians, for example.

inadequate? LOL, yes, but who isn't?

and don't forget Germany wants to get rid of nuclear power

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 08:13 | 2165251 Shylockracy

The greek kleptocracy wants a cut in the Shoa Business to supplement their extortion revenues and distract the unwashed masses.

I say more power to the Greek kleptocrats. Let them further debase Greece's national dignity while rocking the Eurokleptocracy's boat.

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 08:15 | 2165253 btard4life

FAZ has a reprint of an article about greece from 1858:

"The Protecting Powers of Greece had finally guaranteed the solvency of the country, so that the country was able to negotiate a loan abroad. The resources that were available through this bond, were squandered by the government without any benefit for the country itself, and once the money was spent, the guarantor powers had to serve interest out of pure benevolence . Greece could not pay at all."

http://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/griechenland-das-land-lebt-seit-se...

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 10:19 | 2165583 Kalevi

I don't know who the Germans or Dutch are, but I do know the Finns.

They are my parents, born during a war, lived through miserable economic climate, need to pay the offended Soviets you know, worked hard and saved what ever they could.

Now the goverment of Finland is robbing the pension funds to pay, in solidarity with our European friends, the PIIGS.

Maybe this is how it should be, I don't know but my gut feeling is,

HANG ALL GOLDMAN SUCKS BASTARDS, and for crying out loud, stop sending money to the bankers!

The Greek people who need the handout will not see one cent of it anyway.

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 17:29 | 2167281 Youri Carma

Who are the Dutch? :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSf2O80brbU

Sun, 02/19/2012 - 21:06 | 2176335 q5251355

Revolutionary footwear- Vibram Five Fingers shoes won great reputation and highly recommended by customers around the world. Made by Vibram, the design of five fingers shoes is according to human foot structure. Compare to traditional footwear in the shoes market, Vibram Five Fingers offer more health care and physical therapy to wearers. This five toes separated Vibram Shoes make you feel barefoot on the ground just like returning to childhood. Wear Vibram 5 Fingers shoes will improve balance and agility, meanwhile, efficiently protect wearers’ feet from injury. Wonderful massage function will come into play during your exercise. Wide range of Vibram Five Fingers sale in the Vibram Five Fingers UK online store, Vibram Bikila Five Fingers, Vibram Classic Five Fingers, Vibram Kso Five Fingers, Vibram Flow Five Fingers, Vibram Speed Five Fingers, Vibram Sprint Five Fingers, Vibram Kso Trek Five Fingers, Vibram Treksport Five Fingers,etc. Cheap Vibram Shoes in UK store available for men and women. Welcome to shop for reliable Vibram Shoes here, top quality Five Fingers Vibram will make you enjoy more healthier and natural activities.