With the majority of young (and middle-aged for that matter) voters in Greece moving away from the mainstream parties as they become disillusioned about their futures, today brings together two sides of the potential reaction (one of hope and one of despair). In an 80-second clip, we hear the truth that "leaving the country is a real prospect for a lot of young people unfortunately right now" as they are left with the difficult choice of whether to "Leave Greece or stay here and try to live on EUR300-400 per month". Perhaps it is the comment that "Austerity is not the solution, Austerity is the problem" that best summarizes their feelings and perhaps leads to the other 'extreme' side of the Greek youth reaction. As neo-Nazi party, Golden Dawn, celebrated their consolidating election performance yesterday with another attack on an immigrant. A Pakistan national was stabbed last night at Attiki train station. A video, taken from a mobile phone, shows a number of youths, confirmed by eye witnesses as Golden Dawn supporters, kicking someone on the floor. As the video ends, two of the youths can clearly be heard talking, with one asking the other if he used his knife, with the assailant confirming this by saying "it went all the way in". Whether it is the cuts of budgets via austerity or the cuts of the Golden Dawn supporters' attacks, it is clear that Greece is on a knife's edge and this election merely delays the inevitable exit (or further raises the potential - as we have been concerned [3] about for over a year [4] - of real civil unrest and chaos ensuing).
Greek Youth Reject Austerity - Tough choices for young Greeks who may be forced to leave the country (and its future). Thoughtful, afraid young people reflecting honestly and frankly on their future...
and the other side, as reported by Athens News [5]...
4.42pm Golden Dawn "celebrated" their consolidating election performance yesterday with another attack on an immigrant. A Pakistan national was stabbed last night at Attiki train station. According to Vima, the attack took place at around 23.30, with eye witnesses, confirming the assault and the fact that the attackers were Golden Dawn supporters. The victim was taken to hospital. A video, taken from a mobile phone has already been circulated, showing a number of youths kicking someone who is apparently on the floor.
As the video ends, two of the youths can clearly be heard talking, with one asking the other if he used his knife, with the assailant confirming this by saying "it went all the way in". The incident is being investigated by the authorities, who hope the security cameras have caught the assault as well as the faces of those who commited it.