Editorial To Vima: Greece at a crossroads

21:22 25/3/2019 - Πηγή: In.gr

Although the electoral period is not yet in full swing, there are many signs of the outcome. A number of activities of the people and a series of scattered political events show that citizens have largely made up their mind.

For some time, at every opportunity voters have exhibited their aversion to

government cadres. They do not take part in gatherings that members of the ruling party organise nationwide and they clearly articulate their consternation.

An indicative example in recent days was the cold reception for Digital Policy Minister Nikos Pappas in Kilkis and Veria. An extremely close collaborator and until recently the alter ego of the PM, Pappas found himself in a very tight spot. The residents of the two cities of Macedonia treated the “great” minister with “flashy indifference”, as reports indicated.

Despite the party’s mobilisation, it could only muster a few dozen supporters and voters. This is the result of the collapse of the expectations and prospects of the party that is responsible for the country’s fate.

That is perhaps the greatest problem of the ruling party. It can no longer stir the masses or revive expectations.
It exhausted citizens and appears to have become exhausted itself. It can no longer persuade and is not in a position to offer the answers regarding the country’s future which citizens demand and seek.

The model that is developing is restrictive, defensive, and unsuited to the conditions and opportunities created by Greece’s fiscal adjustment of over a decade.

Citizens have understood that the ruling party functions as a force of containment and not as a force of growth and progress. In short, it does not want to and cannot put to use the results of the sacrifices of the Greek people.

Bound by its ideological fixations, skewed perspective, and the divisive spirit that characterises its leadership, it fails to do even the obvious and limits itself to pursuing narrow partisan objectives which attract only fanatics and the self-interested.

SYRIZA reconciled itself to the idea of stabilisation which it was forced to serve though it never believed in its dynamic. That is why it cannot galvanise the country or mobilise and uplift the country’s productive forces.

More importantly, it is unable to plan for the future and to offer a vision of progress and prosperity.

After five years of bad experiences and countless amateurish choices, citizens have understood the many deficiencies of the government and will not tolerate its miserable aims. They are not persuaded by its hypocritical declarations that it serves the interests of the many.

People know the ruling party’s capabilities and sub rosa objectives. That is why they with scorn turn their heads away and will punish it in the multiple elections that will be held in the coming months.

The truth be told, Greece is at a crucial crossroads and its citizens know that. After the tempest of the protracted crisis, it can achieve a strong economic recovery and pick up the thread of prosperity and progress as long as it makes the right choices.

Those who objectively assess Greece’s economic and social conditions firmly believe that the country now has the opportunities and capability to mobilise important domestic and international funds.

All that prospective investors demand is confirmation of a stable environment and adherence to reforms.

The country now needs political forces which can offer the related guarantees of stability and a reform momentum.
There is no room for charlatans and wizards in training any longer.