Hardships frustrate Greeks as recession persists

The Greek parliament's failure Monday to elect a president reflects frustration among citizens who have weathered years of harsh austerity measures imposed by the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund to get its failing economy back on track.

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras set early national elections for Jan. 25 when members of parliament failed after three votes to coalesce around one candidate. Former foreign minister Stavros Dimas of the New Democrat party won 168 votes, 12 votes shy of the 180 votes needed to win.

Polls show Syriza, a relatively new left-wing party, could seize power from a coalition government controlled by Social Democrats and conservatives. Syriza won 27% of the parliamentary seats in the 2012 election to become Greece's second-largest party.

Unemployment in Greece stands at 25% after six years of recession. The government implemented a series of austerity measures, including layoffs for thousands of government employees, pay cuts and tax increases, as a condition of a bailout by the European Union financial authorities and the IMF. The measures meant Greeks endured severe benefit cuts, including pay reductions, an increase in the retirement age, tax hikes on pensions and decreases in unemployment and pension payments. Syriza promises to renegotiate that deal.

The economic crisis in Greece "is something unheard of during peacetime," Greece's ambassador to the United States, Christos Panagopoulos, told USA TODAY in a wide-ranging interview. The sacrifices cut across the board, he said.

"There is not one Greek citizen who hasn't felt this economic Armageddon," Panagopoulos said. "I have no problem to admit that people are unhappy."

IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said Monday that the IMF would not review Greece's bailout program until a government is in place.

"Greece faces no immediate financing needs," he said.

The economy is showing slow but steady recovery, Panagopoulos said. Unemployment fell from an high of 28% this year to 25%. Greece's GDP grew in the second quarter of 2014, marking its exit from recession, the European Commission said.

Investors see opportunities in Greece and tourism remains strong, he said.

"People can see better signs are coming," he said. "We are resilient. We have 3,000 years of history. I'm sure we're going to overcome the economic crisis."