Greek crisis

I refer to the most important point in Brian Monteith’s “Grexit from the Euro could hurt other parties of the left” article (Perspective, 29 June), namely that a referendum on the austerity package is the democratic process European leaders most hate and fear.

It’s a stark reminder of what is often forgotten in these sorts of financial crises: who pulls the strings.

Surely a great deal of power is wielded by the economic bureaucrats of the IMF, the European Central Bank and Eurozone economies.

They are all unelected and are seemingly the ones calling the shots when it comes to Greece’s future.

No matter the result of the referendum, it is democratic and should be welcomed despite what EU leaders would prefer.

What Brian Monteith doesn’t mention is that left-of-centre parties like Syriza may find alternative sources of financial help.

Apparently, under different circumstances Russia may have been willing to lend but another prospective partner has been mooted.

Arguably it would be the supreme irony if the Western ideal of democracy is saved by the biggest bank in the world, China’s ICBC.

Ellis Thorpe

Old Chapel Walk

Inverurie