Restoring faith in state control
The Greek state’s tax offices and control mechanisms gradually disintegrated over the years as political parties and trade unionists ended up developing their own system of para-management.
Meanwhile, the position of a permanent, non-political general secretary in charge of revenues was recently established at the Ministry of Finance.
It is a splendid idea, provided of course that this new institution is safeguarded against political intervention, is staffed according to criteria based on merit and is equipped with the necessary technological tools.
Whether this newly founded institution is part of Greece’s obligations with regard to the memorandums the country has signed with its partners and creditors is of no importance whatsoever.
It is something which simply has to be done in order for professional public servants to be able to do their jobs properly, on the one hand, and, on the other, for citizens to have their faith in vital state mechanisms restored.
