It may surprise you, but the best-performing stock market in Europe in 2012 was Greece’s.

The Athens index rose 33%, outpacing even Germany’s DAX.

But the news is not symptomatic of Europe’s health as a whole, where the overall economy continues to contract.

And after so long underwater, the Greek market may just be making up for lost ground.

Greek officials now predict that the economy will start growing by October, as European support lends a measure of confidence to foreign and domestic investors.

So, is a Greek exit from the euro – a Grexit – finally off the table?

Judging by events unfolding there, not yet.

A nationwide strike on Wednesday shut down government services throughout the country. Roads and railways were bare as transportation came to a standstill.

Once again, the young took to the streets to do battle with police – some 60% of them remain without jobs.

Greece has the highest unemployment rate in Europe. The country owes more than it makes: the national debt is 161% of GDP.

The human factor is tragic: Suicides, and people losing their homes, unable to pay for food, or for heavily-taxed heating oil.

In the video above, former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou speaks to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour about the early days of the country's economic crash and future of Greece in the eurozone.