europe, greece | WOPULAR

Greeks May Hold $510B Trump Card

Greece’s next government may hold a trump card worth more than $510 billion if it heeds voters’ demands to renegotiate its bailout with the European Union. The nation owes about 400 billion euros ($517 billion) to private bondholders, public bodies such as the International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank, and other creditors, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. About 252 billion euros of that’s due to official organizations that used their status to avoid the losses suffered by ordinary bondholders when Greece restructured its debt two months ago.

Euro up, stock markets mixed after votes in France and Greece

Investors nervous about the changing political winds in Europe initially drove down the euro and sent stock markets falling across the region Monday morning, though markets were bouncing back later in the day following renewed signs of strength in the German economy.

Senh: "On one hand, a number of economists and politicians including Hollande have argued that a single-minded focus on cuts has done more harm than good, driving a number of the region’s economies into recession and sending unemployment soaring. They argue that fiscal restraint should now be paired with new policies also aimed at fueling growth." This is Barack Obama's been doing for the last three and a half years. I guess the French approves of how that's been going to vote in someone who wants to do the same.

Greek political system in chaos

Greece's center-right New Democracy party looks set to get the first chance to form a new government Monday, but party leader Antonis Samaras will have a complicated task after an election where angry voters punished politicians for backing harsh government budget cuts.

Angry Greeks vote in cliffhanger election

Angry Greek voters head to the polls on Sunday for an election shrouded in uncertainty that could reignite Europe's debt crisis and renew doubts about the country's future in the euro zone.

Unemployment Reaches Record High in Euro Zone

Unemployment rose to 10.9 percent in April, the 11th monthly increase in row, and is likely to add to tension ahead of national elections in Greece and France on Sunday.