Staying on the path of reform
The merest suggestion that much-needed reforms might be put off for a later date or be implemented only in part would quickly spell disaster for Greece.
There are many champions of inertia and the old political system waiting to swoop in at the slightest provocation and accuse the prime minister and his government of making promises and distributing handouts in order to appease public sentiment.
They haven’t succeeded in making such accusations stick yet but there are many crucial battles lying ahead that the government will have to win.
If the pre-reshuffle government stood out for one thing, it was the courage of a handful of ministers who explained clearly and succinctly why certain painful measures needed to be adopted for the good of the Greek people. They didn’t put the blame on the troika and there is a large part of public opinion that appreciated that candor. It is that kind of courage that we need today, with clear direction and without any back-pedaling.
