ROME — Less than two weeks after taking power in national elections, Greece’s leftist-led government now is taking Europe. Fashion critics in London are debating whether the Greek finance minister is an arbiter of cool chic, or looks like a nightclub bouncer. Politicians in Brussels and Berlin are mulling whether the new Greek prime minister is a radical looking to bring down the eurozone, or a canny operator looking for a deal.
Europe’s politics of austerity, while vitally important, tend to be mind-numbingly technical. But the Greeks are making things interesting, in unexpected ways, as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the new finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, take a tour of European capitals to seek political support for renegotiating the terms of Greece’s bailout — while also managing to turn a lack of neckties into adroit political marketing.
Even as the Greeks are facing a rapidly shrinking window of time to cut a new deal — or face a possible national default — Mr. Tsipras seems to be betting that European politics are shifting in his favor. His election, coming as left-wing and right-wing populist parties gather strength across the continent, has forced European leaders, especially in Germany and other northern countries, to confront the broadening public disillusionment in southern countries about the belt-tightening policies implemented after the 2009 economic crisis.
“They are forcing some of the issues into the open and making it hard for northern European countries to avoid the discussion,” said Simon Tilford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform in London.
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Ultimately, though, the realities that existed before the Greek elections remain in place, and some analysts believe that Mr. Tsipras is already moderating his demands as he presents himself to the rest of Europe as a responsible leader, rather than a radical. During the campaign, Syriza demanded that European creditors write off nearly half of Greece’s debt, but Mr. Varoufakis has since indicated that negotiating better repayment terms is now the primary goal.
“They are trying to gradually shift, in a way that doesn’t leave them with a total loss of credibility in the eyes of their voters,” said George Pagoulatos, a professor of European economy and politics at Athens University. “They are a left-wing, radical government that is forced to govern in a very constrained environment. Now they are seeing how difficult that is.”
Mr. Renzi, at least, tried to be optimistic in his appearance with Mr. Tsipras. The new Greek leader has reportedly pledged to wear a tie only on the day that Greece’s debt problems are resolved. Mr. Renzi presented him with an Italian-made necktie for when that day finally comes.
Niki Kitsantonis contributed reporting from Athens, and Gaia Pianigiani from Rome.
