Tsipras's prize: debt relief like West Germany in 1953

ALL government leaders dissimulate equally; but some are more equal than others.

Alexis Tsipras, who is likely to continue as Greek Prime Minister after precipitating a general election for next month, arrived in power in January attempting to resolve an "impossible trinity": relaxing the economic squeeze, rescheduling Greece's unpayable debts, and keeping the country in the euro.

Satisfactorily achieving all three aims appeared unachievable - and it was. Yet, Mr Tsipras appears to have attained greater success than Angela Merkel, his main European sparring partner. The German chancellor, too, promised her electorate three unrealisable goals. However, frightened of being made a scapegoat worldwide for ejecting Greece from the euro, she seems to have caved in to international pressure even more than Mr Tsipras.