PASOK is able to renew itself
Despite its success with «high-level policy» issues, mostly within your area of competence, the government is unable to narrow the gap separating it from New Democracy in the opinion polls. What do you think should change so that PASOK can fight the next election on equal terms? I believe that the climate has gradually begun to change for the government, both in foreign and domestic policy. This change is reflected in the polls, which show a narrowing of the gap, in my opinion revealing a momentum far stronger than the figures, which are circumstantial in nature. We must consolidate this momentum by intensifying our collective efforts and fulfilling our mandate. We have about a year and a half until the elections, and that is a very important timespan in politics, especially seeing that during that period, we have scheduled the implementation of important policies that will have a decisive effect, improving the public’s everyday life and bringing new optimism about the future. Could you be more specific? In the remaining time, we must focus our energies on the domestic front, use the economic measures we have at our disposal to relieve the most economically deprived social groups, boost our policies for developing the provinces, continue modernizing administration and governance, and stand firm in our fight against corruption and poor administration. PASOK has a tremendous capacity for renewal, and also a political durability which confirms its central role in Greek society. It can recognize society’s problems and devote its energy to solving them. It has done so in the past and does so now. The local government elections showed up our strengths and weaknesses, and already I can see that they have woken up the government and the party. That is why I am optimistic about the future. We must mobilize all our powers and persist in our objectives so as to regain the trust of the Greek people.
