Bold, painful reforms seen as answer
The majority of Greeks are calling on the government to push through bolder reforms to meet the challenges of the global crisis, even though they know that some people will be hurt by the changes, according to the results of a survey made public yesterday. The survey, commissioned by the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), found that 76.9 percent of those questioned said Greece will not be able to get through the crisis unless bolder and deeper reforms are implemented. «A high number of people, 80.2 percent, believe that today’s crisis has revealed the weaknesses of the Greek economy which have existed for decades,» SEV said in a statement. Greece’s massive public sector, costly healthcare services and creaking social security system are among the key areas that require changes, according to economists. The survey, conducted by MRB Hellas, questioned 1,104 people between March 27 and 30. Asked who was to blame for the downturn, most people pointed to the government. About a third said the current conservative government is to blame, while another 33 percent blamed the previous governments that ruled Greece. «It is noteworthy that a very small percentage place the blame on union groups (7.4 percent) and businesses,» SEV added.
