If you think that Greece and Cyprus are sovereigns, think again.
And Iceland chose not to receive "economic help".
Greece and Cyprus were forced to receive "economic help".
And Iceland chose not to receive "economic help".
Greece and Cyprus were forced to receive "economic help".
Not AFAIK. Their alternatives were just worse.
There's a little bit of subjectivity in assigning those numbers, because a number of pro-bailout/austerity parties were trying as hard as possible to take up tough-sounding, qualified positions, e.g. in the first round Democratic Left was "less" pro- than the others, even though it eventually joined a coalition government that implemented the demanded conditions. So one could argue that Greek sentiment was more anti-bailout/austerity than the results implied, since some people voted for what they thought were moderate anti- parties who turned out to be grudgingly pro- in practice.
Party A was in power until 2009.
During the 2009 elections party A said: "Oops! We're screwed! No more money!". Party B said: "No! Party A is lying! There are lots of money!".
Guess who won? That's right: Party B.
0.0000001 seconds later
Party B: "After all there is no money as we thought... But hey! We're in charge now! We'll save you! It's what we do best!". Nobody said that what they do best isn't very nice...
Forward to 2012.
Party B: "Vote us, so that we'll keep saving you with our great plan and our great banker friends!"
Party A: "Noooo!!! Don't vote for Party B! Their plan and their banker friends are baaaaaaaad!!! We have a better solution! A magic solution!"
Guess again who won? That's right: Party A.
0.0000001 seconds later
Party A: "Shit! Actually Party B's plan is the only real plan... But we are in charge now! Why bother to bring back Party B to keep going with their plan? We can do it as well! Probably even better!"
The End.
Desperate people? Yes. Retarded voters? Yes. Incompetent government? Not really. Corrupted government? Most likely.