Greece’s no vote is no victory for democracy

Alexis Tsipras’s decision to resort to democracy by referendum saw him leaning to the ‘laos’ of the mob and promoting the worst version of Greek politics, writes Bernard-Henri Lévy.

DESPITE what many are saying — especially those who do not have to bear the consequences of their words — Greek voters’ rejection on Sunday of the latest bailout offer from their country’s creditors did not represent a “victory for democracy”.

For democracy, as the Greeks know better than anyone, is a matter of mediation, representation, and orderly delegation of power. It is not ordinarily a matter of referendum.