GREECE: Voters Reject Bailout

Via the New York Times:

Greeks delivered a shocking rebuff to Europe’s leaders on Sunday, decisively rejecting a deal offered by the country’s creditors in a historic vote that could redefine Greece’s place in Europe and shake the Continent’s financial stability. As people gathered to celebrate in Syntagma Square in central Athens, the Interior Ministry reported that with more than 90 percent of the vote tallied, 61 percent of the voters had said no to a deal that would have imposed greater austerity measures. The no votes carried virtually every district in the country, handing a sweeping victory to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, a leftist who came to power in January vowing to reject new austerity measures, which he called an injustice and economically self-defeating. Last month he walked away from negotiations in frustration at the creditors’ demands, called the referendum and urged Greeks to vote no as a way to give him more bargaining power.

From the BBC:

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he was consulting the leaders of eurozone member states, and would have a conference call with key EU officials and the ECB on Monday morning. French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are scheduled to meet in Paris on Monday. A summit of eurozone heads of state has been called for Tuesday. The European Commission - one of the "troika" of creditors along with the IMF and the ECB - wanted Athens to raise taxes and slash welfare spending to meet its debt obligations. Greece's Syriza-led government, which was elected in January on an anti-austerity platform, said creditors had presented it with an "ultimatum", using fear to put pressure on Greeks. The Greek government's opponents and some Greek voters had complained that the question in Sunday's referendum was unclear. EU officials said it applied to the terms of an offer that was no longer on the table.

Via Reuters:

Shares fell, the euro stumbled and yields on weaker euro zone economies' bonds rose after Greece overwhelmingly voted against conditions for a rescue package, but there was no rout and contagion was limited. Investors sought low-risk assets including Bunds, but the yield premium of Italian 10-year debt over Germany remained below the eight-month highs it hit a week ago. The euro lost half a percent to $1.1053 and 0.6 percent against the safe-haven Japanese yen. It fell as low as $1.0967 in Asia before rebounding, garnering some support from the resignation of Greece's outspoken finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis. Analysts attributed the relatively muted market reaction to expectations the European Central Bank would act to limit any damage. The ECB's governing council was holding a conference call on Monday to decide how long to keep Greek banks afloat.

GREECE: Government Declares Plan To Enact Civil Partnerships Law

ILGA-Europe reports:

The Greek government has signaled its intention to legislate for civil partnership rights for all couples, almost 18 months after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Greece must widen its civil partnership law to include same sex couples. This announcement is very encouraging and ILGA-Europe are pleased to see that Greece is finally taking steps to implement the ECtHR’s decision, handed down in November 2013. It is also indicative of the equality progress being made in the region as the Cypriot government approved a long-awaited civil partnership bill in early May 2015. Malta has also blazed a trail for equality measures in recent months, legalising civil unions for all couples in addition to its advances on legal gender recognition and constitutional protection from discrimination.

RELATED: The European Union currently has 28 members. Same-sex marriage is legal in twelve of them: Belgium, Denmark, Finland (effective 2017), France, Ireland (effective September 2015) Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia (effective date pending), Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland.)  Civil unions are legal in seven EU nations: Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia (effective 2016), Germany, Hungary, and Malta. No partnership recognitions exist in nine EU nations: Bulgaria, Cyprus*, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. [*A civil unions bill advanced in Cyprus in late April.]

Eurovision 2015: Greece's Entry

Via Eurovision:

In tonight's programme from the Enastron Music Hall in Athens. The hosts presented the five songs that were in contention for EuroSong 2015, a 50/50 mix of Jury and televoting determined that Maria-Eleni Kyriakou would represent Greece in the First Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday the 19th of May. Maria-Eleni Kyriakou is of Cypriot origin, and has had a very successful career in Greece and participated in The Voice of Greece. It has always been a dream of hers to perform at the Eurovision Song Contest. She describes One Last Breath, a song she has co-written, as a pop ballad.

The ending is very Conchita Wurst.

GREECE: New Government To Extend Civil Unions Recognition To Gay Couples

Via the Associated Press:

Greece's new left-wing government has promised to grant same-sex couples legal status, in response to a 2013 international court decision condemning the country for discrimination. Justice Minister Nikolaos Paraskevopoulos told parliament Monday that civil partnerships, first legislated in 2008, would be extended to gay couples but did not say when the changes were planned. The pledge was made two weeks after the left-wing Syriza party ousted conservatives in a general election and formed a coalition government with a right-wing, anti-bailout party, one which in the past has opposed awarding gay partners legal status. In 2013, the Council of Europe's Court of Human Rights awarded plaintiffs damages after they successfully challenged the Greek state over its civil partnerships law.

RELATED: Last month Greece's newly-elected atheist prime minister "politely" declined to be sworn-in by the Archbishop of Athens.

GREECE: Atheist Prime Minister "Politely" Rebuffs Clergy For Swearing-In Ceremony

Via the Economist:

Greece's new prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, made history within hours of his victory by informing the Archbishop of Athens, very politely, that clerical services would not be required for his swearing-in ceremony. An avowed atheist who has nonetheless made a point of dealing courteously with senior clergy, Mr Tsipras lost no time in making known that his oath of office would be a secular procedure. It was also explained that when the whole cabinet was sworn in, a more junior cleric (but not the archbishop) would be invited to assist those who wished to take a religious oath.

It's hard to overstate what a rupture this marks with the ceremonial culture of Greece. For as long as anybody can remember, every senior office-holder, from socialists to right-wing dictators, has assumed the post with a ritual involving Bibles, crosses and often holy water, sprinkled about with a sprig of basil. The opening words of the Greek constitution recall the theological formulas of the early church which predate by the Hellenic state by more than 1,300 years: "In the name of the holy, consubstantial and indivisible Trinity......"

An Orthodox Christian leader praised Tsipras for declining to take a "false oath." (Tipped by JMG reader Rob)

GREECE: Archeologists Find Possible Remains Of Alexander The Great's Lover

Via Discovery News:

A skeleton has emerged from the Alexander the Great-era tomb in Amphipolis in northern Greece, according to a news announcement by the Greek Ministry of Culture on Wednesday. At least one archaeologist has suggested that the remains, if male, could belong to Hephaestion, a close friend and possible lover of Alexander the Great -- or someone like him. Archaeologists led by Katerina Peristeri found the human remains in a box-shaped grave. The 10.6 by 5.1-foot limestone burial was found at about 5.3 feet beneath the floor of the third chamber in the massive tomb site. Within the limestone grave, the archaeologists unearthed the remains of a wooden coffin, along with iron and copper nails, bone and glass fragments — most likely decorative elements of the coffin. “Parts of the skeleton were found scattered within and outside of the grave. Obviously, an anthropological investigation will be carried on the remains,” the Greek ministry of culture said in a statement.

(Tipped by JMG reader Homer)

World's Oldest Erotic Graffiti Found, Text Boasts Of Gay Love Affair

The world's earliest erotic graffiti has been found on a remote Greek island. Amidst two phalluses is a line that boasts of a gay love affair.

Chiselled into the outcrops of dolomite limestone that dot the cape, the inscriptions have provided invaluable insight into the private lives of those who inhabited archaic and classical Greece. One, believed to have been carved in the mid-sixth century BC, proclaimed: "Nikasitimos was here mounting Timiona (Νικασίτιμος οἶφε Τιμίονα). "We know that in ancient Greece sexual desire between men was not a taboo," added Dr Vlachopoulos, who returned to the far-flung island last week to resume work with a team of topographers, photographers, conservationists and students. "But this graffiti … is not just among the earliest ever discovered. By using the verb in the past continuous [tense], it clearly says that these two men were making love over a long period of time, emphasising the sexual act in a way that is highly unusual in erotic artwork." Found at the highest point of the promontory overlooking the Bay of Vathy on the island's north-western tip, the inscription has led the archaeologist to believe that soldiers may once have been garrisoned there. Two penises engraved into limestone beneath the name of Dion, and dating to the fifth century BC, were also discovered at lower heights of the cape. "They would seem to allude to similar behaviour on the part of Dion," said Vlachopoulos.

One expert notes that the graffiti underscores the extent of literacy at that time.

Greece Reinstates Forced HIV Testing

Greece's new minister of health has reinstated a measure that allows the police to detain and test any person for HIV.

Health organisations say the decree stigmatises drug users, sex workers and undocumented migrants in particular. The text also states that any occupants of housing which “may cause danger to public health” should be evicted from their homes, without any alternative being offered. The measure, which was first introduced by Socialist health minister Andreas Loverdos in April 2012 shortly before the general election, resulted in the round-up and subsequent forced testing of hundreds of women. The 17 found to be HIV positive had their names, personal details and photographs published in the media, on the grounds of protecting public health.

The measure has been denounced by Doctors Of The World and the Greece Solidarity Campaign.

Anti-Austerity Riots Rock Athens

Greek Pride Festival Attacked By Crowd

Via Associated Press:

Police say about 50 people threw eggs and plastic bottles of water at about 400 people holding a gay pride parade in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. Police moved in to restrict the attackers on Saturday, but no injuries were reported. In recent days, Anthimos, the senior Greek Orthodox cleric in Thessaloniki, had publicly criticized the planned gay pride parade. Anthimos, who only uses one name, is known for outspoken speeches on social and political issues.

Stereotyping In Europe

Via Andrew Sullivan.

Greece May Leave Euro Zone

It appears that Greece may leave the Euro Zone and return to a national currency by June 18th, a move that may spark banking panic in other nations where only the first 100,000 Euros on deposit are insured.

"Preventing bank runs in Italy, Spain and Portugal should be the top priority," said Berenberg Bank economist Holger Schmieding. "Policymakers need to make sure that the potential Greek precedent of a forced conversion of domestic euro deposits into a weak new currency would not spark a run on banks ... elsewhere." The ECB is pressing the euro zone to set up a fund that would prevent this dangerous ripple effect, a message reinforced by ECB policymaker Joerg Asmussen last week. "The recapitalization of a troubled bank by its government may lead to a deterioration of the government's fiscal position," Asmussen said. "The deteriorating fiscal position in turn further weakens banks' balance sheets, through their holdings of sovereign bonds.

Eurovision: Greece's Eleftheria Eleftheriou

A Greek Cypriot, Eleftheria Eleftheriou (real name) competed to represent Cyprus in 2006, finishing seventh. In 2009 she was favored to win X Factor Greece but was voted off in the final to the shock of many. As for the song, it's forgettable Greek-tinged pop disco.

Major Austerity Measures For France

Greek Referendum Dominates G20

It's a snowballing mess.

Markets Tumble Over Greek Crisis

World Markets Sagging As Financial Crisis In Greece Worsens

Chaos In Greece Over Financial Crisis

Greece is seeing its worst civil unrest in decades as the government imposed new austerity measures to combat the spiraling financial situation. Greece's crisis is threatening markets around the world.

Stock futures fell Wednesday, a day after major indexes posted their biggest losses in months on worries that Europe would not be able to contain Greece's debt problems. Strict austerity measure drew thousands of protesters onto the streets of Athens, where the demonstrators tried to storm Greece's parliament and hurled paving stones at police. Three people died in a fire set by Greek protesters in central Athens. European markets were mixed as investors remain cautious about whether a $144 billion aid package for Greece will help stem the growing debt crisis. German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked her country's lawmakers to rush the approval of Germany's $29.3 billion share of the Greek rescue program. Stocks plunged around the world Tuesday as fears escalated that Europe might fail to contain Greece's debt problems. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 225 points, its biggest drop in three months. Investors worry that Europe would have trouble bailing out larger countries like Spain and Portugal because the continent's governments spent so much supporting Greece. There are also concerns that the large debt among European nations could upend a global economic recovery.

VIDEO: Here is some raw footage of rioting today.

Eurovision 2010: Greece's Giorgos Alkaios

Eurovision just posted this beefcake-y performance clip from Greece's entry, Giorgos Alkaios & Friends. We like the friends. Giorgos ain't too shabby either.

Greece Near Bankruptcy

Greece is perilously close to defaulting on its debts, putting the solvency of the euro at risk as well.

If no buyers can be found for its securities, Greece will have no choice but to declare insolvency -- just as Mexico, Ecuador, Russia and Argentina have done in past decades. This puts Brussels in a predicament. European Union rules preclude the 27-member bloc from lending money to member states to plug holes in their budgets or bridge deficits. And even if there were a way to circumvent this prohibition, the consequences could be disastrous. The lack of concern over budget discipline in countries like Spain, Italy and Ireland would spread like wildfire across the entire continent. The message would be clear: Why save, if others will eventually foot the bill? On the other hand, if Brussels left the Greeks to their own devices, the consequences would also be dire. Confidence in the euro would be shattered, and the union would face a crucial test. What good is a common currency, many would ask, if some of the member states pay their debts while others do not?