As Eurovision fans we are used to Hellenic storms, but a whole different kind of storm shook Greece and Europe over the weekend as the Greek people voted overwhelmingly against bailout terms offered by international creditors. While the continent takes one last breath (hey Maria-Elena!), we round up the reactions and opinions of Eurovision stars on the Greek referendum.
Eurovision land wasn’t immune to the effects of the referendum either and Greek and Cypriot Eurovision stars have been vocal in their response.
2004 and 2009 act Sakis Rouvas encouraged Greeks to vote “yes” prior to the referendum.
????? ??? ??????? ? ??????! http://t.co/al36gNfMgp
— sakisrouvas (@sakisrouvas) July 2, 2015
Other Greek stars disagreed with Rouvas. 2013 act Koza Mostra criticised the objectivity of television coverage of debates over voting in the referendum.
Many stars have simply expressed solidarity and support for their fellow Greeks, without offering a clear statement in support or against the result of the referendum.
Greece 2014: Teo Buzz, producer of FreakyFortune
The moment we realize we’re bound to our own choices
— Teo Buzz (@FreakyTeo) July 5, 2015
Greece 2011: Stereo Mike
From #Astoria to #London my thoughts are with #Greece #referendum https://t.co/TM7MDqxJf1 — Stereo Mike (@stereomikepro) July 5, 2015
Greece 2008: Kalomira
Eurovision Song Contest Event Sueprvisor Sietse Bakker also shared his opinion on the referendum:
When I hear media, politicians and bankers speak tonight, I fear there isn’t even consensus about whát the problem is! #greece — Sietse Bakker (@SietseBakker) July 5, 2015
@ Nikos 1) We could also eat insects instead of meat, to replace protein. I mean it’s rediculous having 30% unemloyment 55% at people under 25 and 30% of the population leaving under the poverty line and hear a Greek saying ” we don’t save a lot”.If you, or your friends don’t then start to do so, but please speak for yourself. 2) No reasonable person just blames Merkel. That is another stereotype. Many people are to blame for the current situation (greek ppl included). 3) Which allies are you talking about? History has proven that Greece has no allies.… Read more »
As a Greek I am disappointed in the outcome. Why should we go against our allies? We are as much to blame so we need to stop the attitude and arrogance atm in blaming Merkel etc. Our lifestyle is not conducive to higher productivity and we need to change that. Meanwhile the govt only cares about staying in power so have become good at acting like they are for the people when they are only looking out for their own behinds! Yes I understand that we simply cannot pay the debt back right now so I think the IMF and… Read more »
@Denis, as Mario noted, the article has relevance because we merely quote what Eurovision stars are saying about an event which can have many implications, including Greece’s participation in ESC in the following years. If Greece withdraws from Eurovision 2016 for financial reasons, it would help put things in perspective for those who don’t follow the news.
I’m from Serbia and I really feel for Greek people. I am aware that debts have to paid back, but it is strange that after Greece started implementing the austerity program in 2010, their debt ballooned from EUR 220 billion to EUR 340 million where it is today. How is it possible for their debt to balloon so much in only five years during which severe austerity measures have been taken? I think Greek people have a right to know who took those loans in their name, where the money went and who their creditors are (not countries – but… Read more »
I VOTED NO.THE “NO ” VOTE WON BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SLAVES TO WANT AN EVEN WORST PROGRAMME THAN THE LAST 5 YEARS MEMORANDUM.THAT’S ENOUGH.WE WANT EUROPE OF DEMOCRACY AND POWER TO THE PEOPLE.WE DONT WANT A GERMAN SLAVERY.OUT OF THE MADNESS OF THE BANKERS AND EUROZONE.JAIL FOR GREEK AND GERMAN BANKERS AND POLITICIANS.THEY PUT US IN THIS CAGE.
@ Oh thank you Leaf.. 🙂
@ To Denis
Well its really major as Greece is in danger to not only withdraw from the Vision next year but our whole country’s life is in danger now..
There will be NO Greece & there will be chaos here…It is already too f**ked up here..
And numerous actually visionary stars that have participated in the Vision have expressed their personal feelings & stance..
So there is strong point why such wiwi article is posted here on WiWiBloggs..
It makes totally sense that they posted it..
What’s up with this site’s fascination with political issues? What’s that got to do with ESC?
Unless it directly affects Eurovision and the Greek participation in any way(which I doubt this does) there’s no need to post it in a ESC-related site. There are other sites for it. This should be primarily about ESC and it’s stars, nothing else
@Mario
I believe Greece was put in a hard position, and whatever you guys choose the consequences are what they are. So the people that voted YES or NO in this situation have a valid point. No one is stupid just people see a different way out. #StayStrongGreece -from your northern neighbors.
@ Well good 4 you Zac i guess..
I never stated that ALL the people that voted NO are not educated or even stupid…There were of course many people in this bunch that were intelligent & with high IQ..
I just stated that tones of people that voted NO are not clever intelligent enough compared with the great mass of the people that voted YES…So there is total difference..
Just this..
Mario as an educated Greek-Australian that would’ve voted no if he could, not only is this not the time and place for a political argument, but calling people stupid (almost baselessly) is not a good look.
YES means : 4 us Greeks to keep suffering but at least keep living even if we struggle…It will take few more years before we start overcoming 4 good the financial crisis once and 4 all but hopefully we WILL make it.. NO means : Total disaster…We won’t have anything…Just endless chaos.. And i can not rely at all that we will get over this crisis if we go out of European Union & ditch euro with start using our national old greek money currency.. They might claim that it will be better 4 us but i have my serious… Read more »
Todos los Europeos sabenmos que es mucho mejor una Europa con Grecia en EUROPA que fuera de ella.GRECIA es EUROPA siempre fue asi.
Not random & coincidence that a graeat majority of the greek people that voted NO on the referendum are not that educated & smart..
The greatest majority of the prisoned people in our jails voted NO & only very few of them voted YES actually…So this makes sense aboyt the iq level of these ones that voted NO..
I witnessed mainly the people that were supporters of the YEs to be intellectuals & inteligent individuals from the world of arts..
Tones of greeks that voted ?? belong to the ‘laiki’,traditional,backward social class..
And to make matters interesting, for better or worse, Greece might be in 2016 ESC.
My personal stance on this referendum is YES..
Both options are pretty much horrible 4 me but i just have no choice at all here..
I have to choose 4 the least bad scenario here..
Hopefully today we will find a livable solution with our borrowers in the meeting of European Union..