Game of Thrones – When politics resembles sci-fi fantasy (photos)

Greece has completed five years of austerity just as popular “Game of Thrones” is in its fifth series and both the Greek crisis and the popular series have a great deal in common with politics, diplomatic games and danger lurking ahead. Of course, not even George R. R. Martin’s fantasy could have come up with as many cliff-hankers as Greece’s very real turmoil.

Cersei Lannister, Light of the West – German Chancellor Angela Merkel
The cunning queen has a great deal in common with Merkel. Both say they care about the good of the nations. Cersei, however, paid highly for her taking over the rule of the realm. Will Merkel?

Jon Snow – Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras
Like Snow, Tsipras claims that the circumstances of his birth are of little importance. Leftist Tsipras supported an alliance with the right-wing anti-austerity Independent Greeks (ANEL) just as Snow supported a controversial alliance between the Night’s Watch and the Free Folk. Snow’s wildling woman, Ygritte, is Tsipras’ Betty. But will Tsipras, like Snow, suffer from a mutiny and be left to die?

Melisandre, the Red Woman – Liberal New Democracy MP Dora Bakoyannis
Both are intrigued by the Iron Throne and use their power to get it. ND Leader Antonis Samaras is Bakoyannis’ Stannis.

White Walkers – Troika
The mythological race mentioned in ancient legends and stories descended upon Westeros from the farthest north, from the Lands of Always Winter. Nobody knew why they came but they killed all. They have a humanoid appearance but are taller with long wispy white hair pale grey-white skin, wrinkly, stretched taut across their fraes and look a little gaunt. White Walkers are stronger than humans and can send large men reeling back several feet with a single blow.

Daenerys Targaryen – Greece
As Ser Jorah Mormont said to Daenerys Targaryen: “You have a good claim: a title, a birthright. But you have something more than that: You may cover it up and deny it, but you have a gentle heart. You would be not only respected and feared, you would be loved. Someone who can rule and should rule. Centuries come and go wihout a person like that coming into the world. There are times that I look at you, and I still can’t believe you’re real.” Like Greece, she lost all she had due to the manipulations of vengeful people – the maegi Mirri Maz Duur in Daenerys’ case.

Jaime Lannister – Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis
Greece’s finance minister is the sex symbol, and like Jaime, begins an arduous journey. His motivations are never really known, just as Jaime never discussed precisely what happened the day he slew the Mad King, and thus reveal his true motivations. Jaime killed Aerys and in doing so saved thousands of innocent lives.

Aemon Targaryen – Manolis Glezos
Around a hundred years old, Aemon is thought to be one of the oldest living men in Westeros though he has retained all of his wits and his mind is still very sharp.

Brienne of Tarth – Speaker of the House Zoe Konstantopoulou
Unusually tall and muscular by Westerosi standards, she has a taste for martial arts and is skilled. She dreams of becoming a knight. She is called “The Maid of Tarth” and proves herself over the men. She tells Jaime Lannister: “All my life men like you’ve sneered at me, and all my life I’ve been knocking men like you into the dust.”

Sansa Stark – PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata
“I’m Sansa Stark of Winterfell. This is my home and you can’t frighten me,” says Sansa, and the new PASOK leader may well say the same after taking over a crumbling socialist party.

Sir Jorah Mormont – main opposition New Democracy Leader Antonis Samaras
“There’s a beast in every man and it stirs when you put a sword in his hand,” says Jorah, though in the case of former prime minister Samaras it was the pen that proved mightier than the sword, signing over the Greek nation to more crippling austerity. Samaras had betrayed his party by creating Politiki Anoixi in the Nineties, whereas Mormont had betrayed Daenerys by spying. He works to earn her trust once more.