The victory of Syriza, the radical left party, in national elections in Greece last week poses challenges to the established political order in that country as well as in Europe. It is a rejection of the duopoly that has ruled Greece for four decades as well as a repudiation of the austerity politics that the European Union has forced on debtor governments that cannot manage their economies.
In fact, the two are related: It is precisely the iron grip that entrenched parties have held throughout the continent that created many of the economic problems that have impoverished Europe.
Syriza's win was expected. Disdain for PASOK and New Democracy, the center-left and center-right parties, respectively, that have been the mainstays of Greek politics for much of the postwar era, has reached new heights as both struggled ineffectively to deal with the hardships imposed by insolvency.