A swirl of emotions descends on Greece ATHENS produce a clear winner last time and “We have nothing to lose — we have that may do the same when they vote no fear,” a woman who gave her name again on June 17. only as Maria said as she stood in Syn­ In lull between electrons, On Thursday, a caretaker prime min­ tagma Square. “It’s a transitional peri­ fear and anger dominate ister, Panagiotis Pikrammenos, named od. We will find our way.” a temporary cabinet of diplomats and Nearby, newspaper headlines joked as an outcome is awaited academics, while 300 new members of about the interim prime minister’s last Parliament took their oaths of office be­ name, which means “embittered,” BY RACHEL DONADIO fore the body was to be dissolved again while others talked about how Chancel­ on Friday. The ceremony reflected the lor Angela Merkel of Germany was The breathless international headlines new forces at work on Greece’s political softening her tough line on austerity cry out about Greek chaos — fears of landscape, as members of the neo-Nazi and suggesting that Europe also needed bank runs in a country without a gov­ party Golden Dawn refused to stand some stimulus spending. “Merkel Puts ernment poised to take down the euro, when Muslim legislators were sworn in More Water in Her Wine,” a headline in and with it the global economy. But here on a Koran. the daily Ta Nea read. in Athens the mood is more subdued. In the tense lull between elections, the Anthie Soukou, 32, an agriculturist, Two weeks after elections and a political and economic uncertainty here said she was reassured by Ms. Merkel’s month before new ones, the dominant has produced a new air of expectation, comments. “It’s comforting, in com­ feeling is anticipation mingled with fear and the sense of an endgame in which plete contrast with the grim news from and anger, as Greeks express the same Greece will fall apart or Europe will pull inside Greece,” she said. “Maybe this confusing range of views that failed to together — or perhaps both. GREECE, PAGE 3 THE GLOBAL EDITION OF THE NEW YORK TIMES FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012 I 3 EUROPE BRIEFLY Italy moves Europe to counter subversive SOFIA violence Lawmakers ban smoking in all indoor public areas ROME The Bulgarian Parliament voted Thurs­ day to ban smoking in all indoor public As fiscal crisis deepens, spaces starting on June 1 in an attempt tax offices have become to persuade one of Europe’s heaviest smoking nations to kick the habit. frequent targets of anger The European Union’s poorest mem­ ber state joined a growing list of na­ BY GAIA PIANIGIANI tions to ban smoking in bars and res­ AND ELISABETTA POVOLEDO taurants. It also agreed to forbid smoking outside nurseries and schools After months of growing social tensions and at stadiums during sports and cul­ stemming from Italy’s economic crisis tural events. More than 40 percent of and new taxes imposed by the govern­ Bulgarian adults smoke. ment, the Interior Ministry announced Inspectors will impose fines of up to extraordinary steps on Thursday to 5,000 levs, about $3,250, for a first of­ stop attacks on tax collection offices and fense and up to 10,000 levs for a repeat to “neutralize” subversive activities. violation for bar owners or managers The move came in response to a fresh who tolerate smoking in restricted outbreak of violence, from both tax- areas. Smokers who break the law face squeezed individuals who have turned a fine of up to 500 levs for a first offense, their anger on Equitalia, the publicly which could be doubled for repeat viola­ owned tax collection agency, and by rad­ tions. A survey showed that 56 percent ical groups that have emerged with new of Bulgarians, the second-heaviest force by modeling their tactics on the do­ smokers in the European Union after mestic terrorists that tried to destabilize Greeks, opposed the total ban on Italy in the 1970s and early 1980s. smoking in closed public areas.(R e u t e r s ) Last week, an anarchist group shot the leg of Roberto Adinolfi, the chief execu­ VILNIUS, LITHUANIA tive of Ansaldo Nucleare, a unit of Fin­ meccanica Group, the Italian military Mother regains child custody and aerospace conglomerate. “Gripping with the help of riot police the gun, choosing and following the tar­ Riot police officers helped a mother re­ get,” read a rambling communiqué from gain custody of her 8-year-old daughter the group published by the Milan daily ARIS MESS1NIS/AGENCE FRANCEPRF.SSE on Thursday in a case that has riveted Corriere della Sera, “were the logical Panagiotis Pikrammenos, the caretaker prime minister of Greece, arriving in Parliament in Athens on Thursday. He has named a temporary cabinet of diplomats and academics.Lithuania for three years and led to consequence of an idea of justice.” three deaths. The group pledged to attack other Thirty-nine protesters were detained Finmeccanica targets, and on Thursday as they tried to prevent the police from the company confirmed that the gov­ carrying out a court order allowing the ernment had reinforced security mea­ mother to take her daughter from a sures for the company’s senior man­ Greeks feel a swirl of emotions house where relatives have been keep­ agers and other employees. ing her. Many residents in the southern The government said it was also town of Garliava violently opposed the alarmed by protests and the numerous GREECE, FROM PAGE 1 runs, the uncertainty has caused many order because they alleged that the attacks, including letter bombs and shows we do have a voice after all, that Greeks to take money out of their ac­ girl’s mother, Laimute Stankunaite, makeshift explosive devises, aimed atshe got our message. Or maybe it’s the counts. “Right before elections, nothing was part of a pedophile ring. But early Equitalia branches, as well as the har­ recent election in Germany and the gen­ was moving, it was like people were in Thursday Ms. Stankunaite and her law­ assment of its officials. Earlier this eral atmosphere in Europe and we just shock. No deposits, no withdrawals. Two yer — both wearing bulletproof vests month, an Italian businessman in finan­ think we made a difference.” days after elections, the panic started,” and surrounded by dozens of police car­ cial trouble took 15 hostages at an Many in the international financial said a banker in a branch in downtown rying shields — whisked the girl out of Equitalia office in Lombardy, demand­ community were perplexed that Greece Athens who declined to give her name. the house to a waiting van. ing that tax officials and journalists hear would upset months of relative calm by “I've witnessed a loyal customer clos­ In 2009, the girl’s father, Drasius him out in a tax dispute. calling new elections that yielded so ing her account, all €150,000 of it, putting Kedys, claimed his daughter was being Interior Minister Annamaria Cancel- much uncertainty that its membership it in her handbag and walking out the abused by a pedophile ring involving lieri, said the attacks “confirmed the in the euro zone was is now in question. branch,” the banker said. She added that Ms. Stankunaite. After Mr. Kedys failed need to maintain a high level of vigil­ But for many Greeks, there was a pro­ it was more common for people to take to get a court order protecting his ance and attention,” and pledged to re­ found desire to try something, anything, out smaller amounts, €3,000 to €5,000. daughter, he allegedly killed a judge deploy more than 24,000 police and mil­ new after two years of wage cuts and “It’s the middle ground between their and the mother’s sister, both of whom itary officers as needed to defend more tax hikes under a Socialist government. uncertainty and their fear that if we ab­ he accused of being part of the pedo­ than 14,000 targets and 550 persons “Even if it was just to release the ruptly return to the drachma, they can phile ring. Mr. Kedys then disappeared, against perceived threats. pressure that had built for so long, the have some money for the first few days.” only to be found dead near a reservoir Acknowledging that Equitalia and people wanted to express their anger Some say that Greece is at a major in unexplained circumstances two revenue officials had a tough job be­ and disappointment,” Fotini Bombola, historical turning point. The May 6 elec­ years ago. <a p > cause no one likes to pay taxes, Prime 45, said at her craft store, Happy Cloud, tion results were “national suicide,” Minister Mario Monti said Thursday in downtown Athens. “What they said said Theodoros Pangalos, a Socialist LONDON that the economic crisis made their was, We’re not sheep for you to take to EIRINIVOURLOUMIS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES Party veteran and former deputy prime Murder conviction overturned work “even more difficult and delicate,” the slaughter with our heads down.” Vassiliki Gousiou, who voted for Greece’s Communist Party, on Vouliagmeni Street, whereminister. He said that Greece had re­ and had made them targets. “This is not She said she had voted for the leftist many stores are closed. “I’m afraid — and I’m angry that they want to scare me,” shevealed said. its tendency for self-harm in after justices review case acceptable,” he said. He expressed the party Syriza, which surged at the polls 1922, in the bloody conflicts as the Otto­ A man convicted of murder as a teen­ and is vying for first place in new elec­ man Empire collapsed, and again when ager has had his conviction overturned The recent violence tions.