Behind the Greek Elections

...At the moment, however, he does not appear inclined to do so...

...Perhaps more an evangelist than a politician, Papandreou is a throwback to the days when charismatic leaders won elections by inspiring people, not by employing well-organized political machines...

...Indeed, before the Premier quit his office even the outward appearance of the government's so-called "stability" was rapidly fading and all political observers in Greece were agreed that the ERE had an abnormal situation on its hands...

...Thus, along with two other opposition parties, it did not vote on the electoral laws...

...Although he made some concessions-among them, equal radio time for the Center Union during the campaign -it soon became apparent that he still represented the interests of the ERE...

...The first major rally to protest the "illegality" of the Karamanlis government was scheduled to be held in Athens in April 1962...

...For the passing tourist it is indeed strange and wondrous to attend a vast outdoor rally and hear the descendants of Pericles hoarsely shouting: "Demokratia!, Demokratia tha nikissi...

...Jane Peterson has been living in Greece for the past two years...

...On June 11 of this year, however, only 20 months after his victory, Premier Karamanlis turned in his resignation...

...True, the trimmings of democracy are present, particularly a free press, but these have only served as a seductive influence on those who might otherwise have been alarmed that Greek democracy was being undermined...

...What happens between now and November, of course, depends on King Paul...

...but other than the government papers, few newspapers ever reach the hundreds of small towns and villages throughout this rocky, mountainous country...

...If, on the other hand, the Center Union alone abstains, thus offering the electorate no moderate alternative to either a Left- or Right-wing government, the Communists are likely to gain in Parliamentary strength and the nation will be polarized into two camps...

...Unless he soon changes his mind, the prospects for democracy in Greece are bleak indeed...

...in fact, caretaker governments functioned in the elections of '52, '56, '58 and '61...

...five months later it was accused of the murder of a Leftist Parliamentary Deputy as he was leaving a rally in Salonika...

...Finally, the Center Union concluded that it could not go into the elections under a Pipinelis government...

...The party, its leaders feel, have a "pact of honor" with the Greek people to see to it that free elections are held...

...But it is said that he now has three ERE Deputies in Greece running the country in his absence, and through them continues to direct party strategy...

...Initially, the protest was discounted by most of the government press as little more than a typical post-election charge, a kind of traditional "we wuz robbed," from the losing party...

...While all this has been going on, Constantine Karamanlis has remained incommunicado in Zurich...

...NEW THREAT TO DEMOCRACY Behind the Greek Elections By Jane Peterson Athens A struggle has been going on in Greece over the past two years which has developed into a fervent crusade, and it is over a political ideal which has its echoes in this country's ancient temple halls-the ideal of democracy...

...IT thus became the King's responsibility to appoint a caretaker government that would organize new elections...

...The Greeks, according to Papandreou and his followers, have been slowly succumbing to a kind of creeping totalitarianism in which the state belongs to one party and the party in question belongs to the King...

...As the opposition increased both in numbers and in vociferousness, the government's power showed visible signs of weakening...

...Under these circumstances, Karamanlis' resignation was practically essential...

...Nonetheless, the opposition went ahead with its plans...

...And when Parliament convened and the discussion of electoral laws began, Pipinelis failed to win the opposition's vote of confidence...

...This is not at all uncommon in Greece...

...One such organization, Karfitsa, or The Pin, was organized in January 1963...

...Ostensibly, his reason for resigning was disagreement with King Paul over the latter's determination to make an official trip to London, despite the unpleasant Leftist agitation that had earlier greeted Queen Frederika's visit...

...And the sight of this "internal occupation force" aligned against a national political party aroused the concern of many previously complacent citizens...

...But despite this dilemma, there is no avoiding the fact that only by acceding to the Center Union's demands and making the requisite changes in the caretaker government can he avert a great deal of difficulty...

...Tanks, jeeps, tear gas and 7,000 policemen were used to prevent people from attending the rally...

...As Prime Minister, the King chose Panayotis Pipinelis, who was formerly the ERE'S Minister of Commerce...

...The rally was forbidden by the government on the grounds that as long as it was responsible for maintaining public order such a demonstration could not be allowed to take place...

...The government declared that the meeting was backed by Leftists, but among the 200 people arrested that night no known Communist was found...

...Long live democracy!]" Such was the scene earlier this month when 200,000 Greeks gathered in a square in downtown Athens to hear a speech on the re-establishment of democratic principles in Greece...

...Since the elections of October 1961, which the courts found marred by fraud and the use of force, meetings of this kind have become less infrequent, and the idea of a return to democratic principles has snow-balled into a movement which has captured the enthusiasm of a great many of the Greek people...

...American circles in Greece, relieved that the political stability of the six-year-old Karamanlis regime was to continue for another four years, agreed...

...As its own show of indignation, the government ordered an immediate investigation of the murder...

...The Greek press, it should be made clear, is free to write what it chooses in Athens...

...In addition, certificates of loyalty arc necessary for acquiring a passport, securing employment, or conducting private enterprise...

...Pipinelis pledged himself to hold honest elections but, given his associations, the opposition was extremely wary...

...He must still contend with serious charges of corruption and the publicity surrounding the murder of the Leftist Deputy in Salonika...

...Although the King can hardly wish to continue the present abnormal state of Greek politicswhich may eventually call into question the issue of the throne and with it his own failure to stand as an impartial head of state -he nevertheless must cope with pressure from the Right...

...Because of his wide appeal among the Greek people, he is ideally suited for the sort of campaign which has followed what he calls the "electoral coup" of 1961...

...It began, in fact, with what appeared to be a plaintive cry on the part of the Center Union party after suffering a resounding election defeat at the hands of Constantine Karamanlis' Right-wing National Radical Union party (ERE...

...What this official explanation of the Premier's resignation failed to mention is that a large segment of Greek citizenry has been bringing substantial pressure to bear against the government...

...It has also decided to stay out of the elections, which are now scheduled for November 3. This portends sad consequences for Greek politics in general...

...This movement had a rather inauspicious beginning...

...The results are well known...

...The courts have since discovered that the police in the Salonika area are also implicated in the killing (charges have included the head of the city's police), and the government has never completely been able to absolve itself of the crime...

...Democracy will win!], Zito Demokratia...

...As for the radio, it is completely controlled by the government...

...After a week of consultation, King Paul came up with a government that was clearly more political in orientation than a neutral caretaker government is supposed to be...

...If the other responsible opposition parties join the Center Union in refusing to participate in the elections, the balloting will be a farce, and stamp Greece as a one-party state...

...The leader of the crusade against the government is George Papandreou, who as Premier in 1944 is generally credited with keeping his country out of the Communist orbit...

...For a counter to the activity of the opposition, the ERE brought into existence more of the para-military organizations called "security battalions," which are used in the countryside as watchdogs of Greek nationalism...