Greece: All the King's Men

George Papandreou had outfoxed young King Constantine again. For five days the confidence vote raged over the King's third and latest choice as Premier, Elias Tsirimokos, 58, a left-leaning member of ex-Premier Papandreou's Center Union Party who broke away at Constantine's bidding to try and form a government. Fist fights and hubbub punctuated the session, and all the King's men and all of Papandreou's felt the pressure of last-minute efforts at coercion that included dark threats of murder. Tsirimokos spoke confidently of victory. The real winner turned out to be Papandreou, who, in his usual style, waited outside in...