Sir, – Looks like Greece has committed the most serious of crimes – no, not mismanaging its financial affairs, not threatening to default on debts, not being prepared to do a deal with the Russians, not putting the euro in jeopardy.
No, none of that. It dares to do something democratic and call a referendum. The worst of European crimes. Unforgivable! – Yours, etc, FRANK BARR Glasnevin, Dublin 11.
Sir, – As former staunch supporters of the European project we are ashamed. We now see the EU for what it really is: a small club of right-wing politicians and interest groups who will do anything to stop a left-wing party succeeding within Europe. As many commentators have pointed out the crisis in Greece has nothing to do with money but is purely political. It reflects an abhorrence of right-wing Eurocrats to see any left-wing government succeeding in Europe.
The behaviour of our Government has been appalling but not unexpected: advise the Greeks to act like us, ie, craw-thumping, forelock- touching and subservient. It is interesting to note, as Derek Scally wrote ("Greek debt standoff a case of deja vu all over again", June 26th) Germany charged Greece 400 million marks as a price for invading Greece. And now Germany with the support of Ireland and other right-wing states within the EU is endeavouring to humiliate Greece and make her people starve. – Yours, etc, SHAUN and BRENDA McCANN The Warehouse, Dublin 8.
Sir, – Prime minister Alexis Tsipras and his finance minister are quick to accuse the Troika of blackmail. Blackmail? In this instance the purported victim is trying to enrich himself at the expense of the blackmailers. This shows how innovative and reality-free Greek political thought is at the moment. – Yours, etc, EDWIN HIGEL Sinzheim, Germany.
Sir, – In Arthur Beesley's analysis piece ("How will Grexit affect euro zone? No one knows", June 26th) he makes the remarkable statement that "millions of Greeks. . . should not have to pay for the titanic errors of their elected leaders".
Surely the whole point of democracy is that the people we elect represent us, that voting is a responsible act, and that their actions are, by extension, our acts.
Failure to remember this is what accounts for the long sad history of protest votes. – Yours, etc, JK TIDMORE Carrigaline, Co Cork.