Big shoes to fill
The Hellenic Statistical Service (ELSTAT) is a shining exception among the shambles of Greece’s state services. In the five years since the start of the crisis, ELSTAT has managed to convince the world of its credibility, an achievement that is largely due to the efforts of Andreas Georgiou, its president until Sunday, and his excellent team of associates.
For what is perhaps the first time in the history of the modern Greek state, the data and indices released by ELSTAT reflect the economic and social reality in the country and constitute an invaluable tool for governments and analysts.
The efforts made by these technocrats are truly heroic if we bear in mind that they were slandered and dragged through the mud like few others in the Greek state apparatus over the five-year period.
Let us hope that the new chief of the national statistical service will be able to fill his predecessor’s shoes and will shun pressure from vested interests and political circles that want ELSTAT to be a tool for deceiving Greeks and the country’s foreign partners.
