With economic problems at the head of the issues, Greek voters elected with 43% of the vote a Socialist led government, to be headed by George Papandreou and his Pasok party. This hard turn to the Left follows economic woes and ineffective policies by the former Conservative government. George Papandreou is expected to ally his arty with other left-leaning parties to make the majority solidly in his favor.

Following in a long tradition of Mediterranean nations, Greece returned to the Leftist fold by electing socialists who promise to reform the economy as they have done here in Spain, making choices to help people currently unemployed or underemployed. Greece, the Birthplace of Democracy, has taken this path after five years of failure on that part of the former government to meet the challenges faced as the world economic crisis brought down the average Greek breadwinner's ability to make a living. Other issues involved scandals during the leadership by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis's ruling Conservative party. there have been riots and other incidents after the shooting of a student during a demonstration, all of which sparked voter resentment of Prime Minister Karamanlis.

Changes Greeks expect from the new government are unemployment to meet current costs of living and job creation. Looking at the election of barack Obama in the U.S., the average Greek seems hopeful that a turn to a Socialist lead government will see them through the current crisis and make for a better tomorrow. Only time will tell if the Socialists can do what the former government was unable to do, make unemployment less painful while stimulating job creation. But for the moment, Greeks are hopeful that their future will be brighter.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/04/greece-election-socialist_n_309085.html