What can be learned from the post-election crisis in Greece? The
traditional political establishment in Greece buckled under the
weight of crippling austerity and a mass people’s movement when
the country went to the polls May 6. Now that the voting is
over, and attempts to form a government have failed, another
election must be held, scheduled for June 17, raising new
questions about the way forward for the Greek working class. The
crisis deepens as panicking Greeks withdraw their savings from
banks on the brink of collapse. Since the fall of the
U.S.-backed military dictatorship that ruled Greece from
1967-1974, two parties, PASOK and New Democracy, have dominated
the political scene. However, both parties had their worst
showing ever, and combined were only able to muster 32 percent
of the vote, down from 77 percent in 2009. Instead, support grew
for parties of both the left and the far right. With parliament
deadlocked, unable to form a new governing coalition, a new
election is pending and there is a dis