THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 INTERNATIONAL Small parties to play outsized role in Greek election

ATHENS: Greece’s splintered political land- party of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who in opinion polls, although this has narrowed the minimum required to enter parliament, Potami, but both of them will keep denying it scape means small, often relatively new par- imposed unpopular budget cuts under to only about three percentage points in the and may be absorbed by Syriza before the until the right moment,” he said. ties may determine whether the winner of Greece’s international bailout deal, and the run-up to the election, called after parliament election. Polls show 5 to 6 percent support for To elections next month can cobble together a radical leftist Syriza of Alexis Tsipras, who failed to elect a new Greek president this The right-wing Independent Greeks Potami, which insists it is firmly pro-euro and lasting government and avoid a new financial wants to cancel austerity along with a chunk week. But neither may be able to form a gov- would make unusual allies for Syriza, with pro-reform but opposes certain austerity crisis. The Jan 25 vote marks a showdown of Greek debt. ernment alone, even with a 50 seat-bonus which they have little in common apart from measures. It also wants Greece’s debt to be between the conservative New Democracy Syriza holds a lead over New Democracy that the constitution automatically awards to dislike of the bailout deal. Polls show a group settled within a broader resolution of Europe’s the biggest party in the 300-seat chamber, of parties jockeying for third place behind problems. Party leader Stavros Theodorakis leaving one or more of the smaller groups to Syriza, which is now the main force on the has opened To Potami to a deal with either of shape the final outcome. Greek left, and New Democracy. They are the the big parties, describing his natural allies as Dominated for decades by New far-right Golden Dawn, the KKE Communist the “reasonable” members of Syriza or “the lib- Democracy and the Socialist PASOK party, party, PASOK and To Potami. Golden Dawn, erals in New Democracy, not the neoliberals”. Greek politics have been radically reshaped which has a swastika-like emblem, denies it is The other player will be PASOK, whose by the debt crisis that forced the country to neo-Nazi or that it has been involved in vio- support has shriveled from 42 percent of the accept two bailouts worth Ä240 billion ($292 lent attacks. Nevertheless, all other Greek vote just five years ago to 4 to 6 percent. Its billion) from the European Union and IMF. In parties refuse to deal with it, while the KKE future is in doubt, with former Prime Minister return they demanded harsh measures, has ruled itself out of any coalition alliance. George Papandreou expected to set up his which have deepened an anti-establishment That leaves To Potami in prime position to own party with some disgruntled PASOK law- mood and anger against the old order. One of become kingmaker. Set up this year by a makers. “Papandreou’s party is a huge ques- the parties most likely to hold the balance of prominent TV journalist, the party made its tion now,” said Costas Panagopoulos of ALCO power is To Potami (“The River”), a recently- debut in elections to the European pollsters, saying the new group could steal created centrist group which has refused to Parliament in May, when it came fifth with 6.6 votes from Syriza, PASOK and even New define itself as pro- or anti-bailout. The other percent. Democracy. Some analysts speculate that is PASOK, which was in Samaras’s outgoing either faction could prop up Syriza if it toned coalition despite taking an electoral thrashing Taking Fright down its anti-bailout stance. in 2012, and is now expected to split. Financial markets took fright on Monday “If Syriza moderates its program on key “Small parties were on the sidelines in the when Samaras was forced to call the election, issues like the economy and comes closer to past but now will be the determining factor in worrying that Tspiras will win and tear up the our program, we can support a Syriza govern- the coming election,” said a senior official bailout deal that saved Greece from bank- ment without necessarily participating in from the PASOK faction that is expected to ruptcy. However, if Tsipras were to win but fail their government,” said the PASOK official break away in the coming days. Two small to find a coalition partner, Greece could also allied with Papandreou. “Parties that partici- anti-bailout parties, the Democratic Left and face a political crisis. Political analyst John pated in the government during the crisis Independent Greeks, are possible allies for Loulis expected Syriza and To Potami to team took a huge risk - that’s why some of them ATHENS: A police officer places outside the Greek parliament an announce- Syriza. However, the Democratic Left is not up. “Once Tsipras wins, the most stabilising shrank or disappeared. They become unpop- ment of the parliament’s dissolution yesterday. —AFP expected to win 3 percent of popular vote, development will be to cooperate with ular to their voters.” —Reuters Little hope for future as east Ukraine ends nightmare year Small village turned into frontline

MARINIVKA, Ukraine: Larissa and totally unremarkable, ham- street, no house they pass seems several months, people are still Pogorelka began the year look- let of 600 inhabitants. Life was to have escaped undamaged. struggling to work out how the ing forward to seeing her son sometimes tough but it was at Here a roof is missing, there a ouster of former president Viktor graduate college and planning least predictable and people family home is little more than Yanukovych in February could for the future with cautious opti- here had a sense of sleepy stabil- charred remains. have ended up with war coming mism. Now she will end 2014 ity. That, though, has been The two-storey school, once to their doorsteps. “They are in homeless, after her house was turned upside down as a conflict the pride of the community, is shock. People cannot digest destroyed in the fighting that that no one saw coming an empty shell pockmarked by what horrors have happened swept through this region of between Ukrainian troops and gaping holes caused by tank here,” says Valentina’s husband east Ukraine, and counts herself Russian-backed rebels turned shells. “You can see what a night- Alexander Fyodorov. “We were GALLIPOLI, Italy: Aid workers wait early yesterday near the Moldovan- not prepared for this.” Ukraine flagged ship Blue Sky M in the port of this city in southeastern Italy. —AFP and the West blame Russia for artificially stirring the rebellion and even sending its own troops Disaster avoided as over the border, while Moscow paints the uprising in the east as ship stopped off Italy a legitimate reaction to an illegal coup in Kiev. GALLIPOLI, Italy: Italy’s coastguard said But after what now appears to have yesterday it had narrowly averted another been a very cursory check, the vessel was But for those caught up in the high seas disaster by intercepting a allowed to continue its journey. A violence, there is little reason- freighter that was on a collision course with spokesman for Greek port police told AFP able explanation for what has the country’s rocky shoreline with more at the time that an inspection had happened. “The only thing you than 900 Syrian refugees on board. In what revealed “no (mechanical) problems and can put it down to is human was the second maritime drama of recent nothing suspicious on the boat.” Italian days, officers revealed that the huge cargo officials suspect that the vessel was then insanity,” Fyodorov said. “To use ship’s engine had been locked on with the under the control of people smugglers howitzer cannons to shoot at steering set on a direction that would have who later jumped ship, as they frequently peaceful houses - it is just mad- led to it crashing ashore somewhere in the do in the knowledge that their human ness.” In the neighbouring vil- Puglia region on the “heel” of Italy. cargo will be picked up by navy or mer- lage of Stepanivka, former trac- The coastguard, already working flat out chant ships. One man suspected of because of the Norman Atlantic ferry disas- involvement with the traffickers was tor driver Vladimir Samolenko ter, scrambled two helicopters overnight arrested after the port arrived in Gallipoli. glances at the burned-out after realising that the Moldovan-regis- wreckage of a Ukrainian tank as tered Blue Sky M, was headed for disaster. Conflict and Poverty he opens his front gate. Six coastguard officers boarded the vessel The drama came as Italy and Greece Inside his cramped living and, after some frantic moments on the were coping with the aftermath of the bridge, were able to unlock the engines Norman Atlantic disaster, which has left at room, his wife Zinaida is boiling and bring the boat under control just five least 13 people dead and dozens more some water for potatoes as their miles from the coast. “It was a real race unaccounted for. The Italian-owned, granddaughter Katya builds a against the clock,” coastguard spokesman Greek-operated ferry was due to be house out of Lego bricks. “Before Filippo Marini said. “Unlocking the engines towed Wednesday from waters off the war, we at least received was a difficult and delicate operation, but Albania back to Italy. The cause of a killer LISICHANSK, Ukraine: A fighter from the Donbass Ukrainian volunteer battalion wearing a they managed to do it.” In a tweet from its blaze that erupted on the ferry on Sunday Father Frost (the equivalent of Santa Claus) hat stands near this eastern Ukrainian city in the pensions and wages,” says official account, the coastguard said a “mas- remains unknown and investigations Lugansk region yesterday. —AFP Samolenko, 76. “It was possible sacre” had been avoided. aimed at finding out what happened have to live.” Now electricity is a con- been opened in Italy and Greece. lucky just to be alive. “Nobody the village into a front line. marish year it has been for us,” stant problem and money is run- Distress Call Survivors who waited up to 24 hours to ever expected any of this to hap- Over the past eight months, said Valentina Fyodorova, point- ning short after the central The migrants on board, including a be rescued from the burning ship have heavily pregnant woman whose waters highlighted major shortcomings in the pen,” the shopkeeper, 42, told the strategic location has ing to the shrapnel scars in the authorities in Kiev stopped mak- broke during the drama, were taken to the crew’s response to the emergency. AFP. “My home has burnt down swapped hands several times wall of her modest grocery store. ing welfare payments to the port of Gallipoli as an inquest began into Doubts over the accuracy of the passen- and I am living with my parents. between government forces and “We were peaceful people. rebel-held areas. “We hope that how the alarming incident had occurred. ger list have hampered attempts to estab- What have I lived for? In one day the insurgents. Since the end of Things were good, but now they the war won’t return but we feel Greece’s coastguard had on Tuesday after- lish the true scale of the tragedy. The you can just lose everything.” the summer it has been under are bad.” that it is not over yet,” he said. “As noon received a distress call from someone prosecutor in charge of the Italian investi- on board the Blue Sky M who reported that gation has said he expects to find more Just a few kilometres from the separatist control. As a handful for the future, it is impossible to it was being navigated by heavily armed bodies aboard the burnt-out ferry, which Russian border, Marinivka in of local residents trudge through ‘It is Just Madness’ say,” he sighed, tracing a large men. A navy frigate, a helicopter and two was carrying an unknown number of Ukraine’s restive Donetsk region, the snow and brave the icy wind Although the situation has question mark in the air with his patrol vessels were dispatched to intercept stowaways and more than 400 passengers used to be a pleasant, if poor along the main Seleverstova been more or less calm here for finger. —AFP the boat off the island of Corfu. and crew. —AFP Italy presidential choice poses problem for PM

ROME: An expected decision by Italy’s president elections, adding to the political uncertainty sur- members of parliament and representatives from to step down next year would leave Prime rounding the euro zone. the regions. It allows for multiple rounds of voting Minister Matteo Renzi facing one of his most del- Napolitano, a former communist respected in by secret ballot, offering ample opportunity for icate political challenges. After dropping hints for Europe and Washington, reluctantly agreed to a revenge to the many party enemies Renzi has months, 89-year-old Giorgio Napolitano, was second term last year after a deadlocked election made during his whirlwind months in charge. likely to indicate in an end-of-year address yes- threatened to leave Italy politically adrift, but said Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, still terday evening that he will leave his post early he would not serve the full seven years. Months burning with resentment at Napolitano’s pre- next year, although he may not name an exact of speculation about potential successors have sumed role in his tumultuous 2011 downfall, has date. The Italian head of state holds wide but thrown up names ranging from European Central insisted that an agreement on the president will loosely defined powers, including appointing Bank President Mario Draghi to current Economy be needed for his support for wider constitu- prime ministers, and can veto legislation as well Minister Pier Carlo Padoan or Defence Minister tional reforms. But the experience of 2013, when as using the office’s moral weight to influence Roberta Pinotti. former Prime Minister Romano Prodi was reject- the political agenda. Renzi, 39, appointed by Napolitano less than a ed by around 100 disgruntled lawmakers in his If Renzi cannot steer an acceptable candidate year ago as Italy’s youngest-ever prime minister own party, also underlines the danger from through the complicated presidential election said on Monday he was “absolutely certain” a suc- within. That fiasco toppled the then-leader of process, it will raise doubts about his ability to cessor could be elected. But the process is full of the Democratic Party Pierluigi Bersani, who had push through economic reforms and planned hazards that could absorb valuable political ener- proposed Prodi, ultimately paving the way for changes to the constitution and electoral sys- gy as Italy struggles to pull out of recession. Renzi to seize control of the party a few months TIRANA: Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (left) takes a selfie with Italian tem. That would fuel speculation about early Electing a president involves about 1,000 voters - later. —Reuters Prime Minister Matteo Renzi after their meeting on Tuesday. —AFP