OPINION

A frenzy of activity

I was watching a television news report showing a parade of ministers streaming in and out of the Maximos Mansion for talks with the prime minister – Petros Efthymiou, Costas Skandalidis, Vasso Papandreou, Michalis Chrysochoidis! What a frenzy of activity! «We had a very constructive meeting with the prime minister and decided…» they tell us, as if we would ever hear any of them telling us: «The PM said I had made a mess of things and I told him he always blames his ministers for everything.» As I watched this parade of ministers, I wondered how the prime minister endures the same meetings, on the same topics, with the same people, over and over again. Could Evangelos Venizelos or Akis Tsochadzopoulos possibly have anything new to say for themselves? There is a ray of hope in the latter’s deputy, Kimon Koulouris – but this will be short-lived. He’ll prosecute a couple of traders for profiteering; they will eventually be exonerated, and by fall exorbitant prices will dominate our street markets once again. Dear Kimon and friends, when we find ourselves paying 180 euros for a room that a Pole, German or Czech would pay 50 euros for, it is very difficult for us to believe that this country has not become entirely corrupt. When we see less frenzied activity outside the prime minister’s residence and more concrete achievements (not just Olympic-related), then we can talk…

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights, opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.

By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.