Cutting the Gordian Knot
The Greek government will have to put up quite a fight with the troika in order to achieve the changes it wants to the fiscal adjustment program. Everyone acknowledges that Greece has made significant progress in its reforms and that society is at breaking point.
But, for the prime minister and his financial team to negotiate, they must deal with civil servants who have violated the code of conduct, used forged qualifications to get their jobs or have no real job description, and who continue to work.
In the last three years the political system has refused to place these civil service employees in the labor reserve scheme and to start meeting streamlining targets. Meanwhile, tens of thousands have lost their jobs in the private sector.
If the government cuts this Gordian Knot it will appear more reliable and strengthen its bargaining position, while making progress on issues that concern millions of citizens.
