Editorial: Mr. Tsipras’ twists and turns

Those who have closely followed the evolution of SYRIZA and Alexis Tsipras since they rose to power are aware of their constant Ovidian metamorphoses over many years.

SYRIZA started off in 2008 as a basically ultra-left pastiche off groups (but with the core being the former parliamentary party Synaspismos which was incorporated into SYRIZA) with a limited understanding of the country and its problems.

The interests of its cadres were limited to the initial images of migration that were that the party focused on and to the experiences of Mr. Tsipras' associates who periodically participated in anti-globalisation protests that developed in Europe and elsewhere.

In its early period SYRIZA's cadres defended migrants' rights and were battling the 1% of the world population that was exploiting the toil of the other 99%.

Moreover, the party failed to discern the coming international financial crisis. It saw it as a minor glitch in the global capitalist system and had no idea that it could mark the beginning of the great Greek crisis.

SYRIZA treated the media as a means of promotion, and Tsipras since his teenage years availed himself of his talent for communication and avidly sought and at times garnered media coverage, including a nationally televised interview when he participated in student sit-ins.

The crisis found SYRIZA unprepared and lacking interpretive tools. At first, when there was confusion about what exactly was going on, it dabbled in unfeasible solutions and choices. Then Greece signed the first bailout memorandum and the party's tactics included over-simplification, demands, and the rhetoric of disaster.

The party gradually incorporated populist movements such as the "Can't pay, won't pay" movement and...