Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis relates this telling anecdote from his negotiations with the troika:
“[German Finance Minister] Schäuble was consistent throughout. His view was ‘I’m not discussing the programme – this was accepted by the previous government and we can’t possibly allow an election to change anything. Because we have elections all the time…’ So at that point I had to get up and say ‘Well perhaps we should simply not hold elections anymore for indebted countries’, and there was no answer. The only interpretation I can give [of their view] is ‘Yes, that would be a good idea, but it would be difficult to do.'”
Brecht was obviously on to something when he wrote these famous lines:
“After the uprising of the 17th June
The Secretary of the Writers Union
Had leaflets distributed in the Stalinallee
Stating that the people
Had forfeited the confidence of the government
And could win it back only
By redoubled efforts. Would it not be easier
In that case for the government
To dissolve the people
And elect another?”
Waqas Mirza 