Greek and European turmoil [opinion]
Recent developments at the World Economic Forum in Davos made everyone realize that German Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schäuble is continuing with his efforts to trap 80% of Greeks in poverty, in order for the statistics to “thrive” within the European Union.
His improper words to the Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, where not random: “It’s the implementation stupid”, he said paraphrasing the famous Bill Clinton line, “It’s the economy, stupid” and the words came out as soon as Tsipras asked Eurozone leaders for “more Europe and less austerity”.
Alexis Tsipras’ government however is consistent to its commitments. It brought a strict pension funds reform draft bill to Parliament, which foreshadows social unrest. Meanwhile, all opposition parties react against SYRIZA, in an effort to increase their popularity.
New Democracy recently elected Kyriakos Mitsotakis in its leadership, even though it was Evangelos Meimarakis who managed to increase the party’s percentage in the polls from 17% to 28%, within a few months, amid negative circumstances. Only in Greece can one observe such things!
Regarding the economy, Alexis Tsipras appeared very optimistic in Davos, when he said that Greece would surprise everybody in 2016. What is significant to mention is that representatives of the Greek Employers’ Unions had previously said the Greek economy would perform better in the second half of 2016. That remains to be seen.
Among the issues the government now has to deal with is the strong opposition of the owners of a great part of the Greek broadcast media. Media owners are against the government’s efforts to regulate the media system, which has been operating without rules since 1990. They are also reacting to the fact that the government has forced them to start paying their long pending debts towards banks and pension funds.
Some political parties unwillingly agree to the broadcast media reform scheme for obvious reasons, with New Democracy being on top of the list. And it is a shame that Kyriakos Mitsotakis began his service at the party’s presidency with such a unprogressive mentality.
Last but not least, the government and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras should stop giving the impression that they are trying to buy time against the country’s interests. Alexis Tsipras should also stop implementing various tactics regarding the electoral system. Last year’s elections clearly showed that people support him. They voted for him and he got elected. If people get against him there’s no electoral system that can save him!
*Konstantinos Pantzios is a journalist and a political analyst
