Transfers and meritocracy
Greece?s political system has for years been a synonym for bad governance, political favors and the complete absence of any realistic evaluation.
If the past is any guide to go by, we have every right to be skeptical about the decision of Prime Minister George Papandreou?s ruling PASOK party to transfer redundant civil servants from debt-ridden public companies to different posts across the state sector in a bid to avoid making anyone unemployed.
It is extremely important, however, that these staff transfers be carried out on the basis of meritocratic criteria.
It is imperative that civil servants who are transferred to a new post be appointed to an area that they like and one whose workings they are familiar with.
If it fails to do this, the country?s authorities risk making a complete mess of an already underperforming state apparatus and the outcome will be yet another generation of civil servants who do not take their jobs seriously.
