Dangerous fallout

Up until a few days ago it seemed that Greece's SYRIZA-led government saw no reason to resort to an early election. In fact, ruling officials seemed as if they would go togreat lengths to maintain their grip on power.

At SYRIZA's recent congress, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras indirectly raised the issue by linking the second review of the country's third bailout agreement with the prospect of debt relief. Now, after the turmoil caused by the government's moves as regards the judiciary, nothing looks certain anymore. It has again been proved that political developments are triggered by specific events. A government cannot always set the agenda.

The coalition government has no doubt been pushed into a corner as the confrontation over the TV licenses has grown into a major political issue that, to a large extent, also concerns the way the country's institutions operate....