Only the Greeks can write a happy end

We will remember this week as the moment most people in Greece realized that the negotiations with our creditors cannot have a happy end. The rush of developments does not allow much time for reflection, but at least the melancholy of dashed expectations may lead to a new awareness of where we stand, what is at stake and what needs to be done. May we use our new wisdom to free ourselves from past divisions and look toward the future.

This past week shook the faith of both the most ardent supporters of the SYRIZA-led government, who would accept no compromise with our creditors, and those who believed that our creditors would do all in their power to prevent Greece leaving the euro. As rival demonstrations in Athens showed the deepening split between the two camps, the government shocked its supporters with a proposal for an 8-billion-euro package for 2015-16 that violated many of SYRIZA’s “red lines.” But before we could get accustomed to the idea that a deal – albeit a very painful one – was at hand, the creditors countered with a return to their older proposal, as time ran out.

Suddenly, SYRIZA supporters who had enjoyed a monopoly on self-righteousness had to choose between supporting their government or taking a stand against it; at the same time, even the most pro-EU Greeks had to wonder whether there was a strong current in Europe and the International Monetary Fund that wanted to force Greece out of the euro (for whatever reason), and would make it impossible for SYRIZA to compromise. The troika’s high-handed rejection of the Greek proposal freed Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras from being solely responsible for Greece’s failure to reach a deal. He could have walked away from the table but he did not. Clearly, the “establishment” no longer had a monopoly on responsibility.

On Thursday night, when these lines were written, it was impossible to know where the negotiations would end. But it was clear to many more people that, whatever the outcome, Greece faces a long and difficult road to recovery. An extension of deadlines for a deal will prolong the months of uncertainty but still allow hopes for a solution; a breakup with creditors will throw Greece into stormier waters when it has already shown it cannot swim; a solution will allow Greece to start rebuilding, but under the wary eyes of creditors and partners who have no confidence in our fulfilling our commitments.

Now that the absolute beliefs of Greece’s two camps have been shaken, the extremists on all sides will continue with their delusions, putting all the blame on the other side. But a greater number of people will be able to see that there is no happy end to this story. First, because the story does not end. Second, because it can only be happy when we Greeks realize that only we can fix our country – and only if we are united.