Remarketing PASOK
During pre-election periods politicians generally talk too much. So we citizens should take everything they say – both accusations and promises – with a pinch of salt. But it is satisfying to note that, during this particular pre-election period, morals appear to be somewhat more emphasized compared to past experiences. Indeed, we have yet to hear any reference to «nightmares,» «liars and cheats» or «national sellouts.» And within this refined election-driven impertinence, one should include the proclamations of PASOK’s new chief George Papandreou on «participatory democracy,» the «new relationship» between politics and the citizen, and other vague pledges. This change has come as no surprise to the more observant commentators who are, rather, asking themselves what took it so long. PASOK’s governance of the country always displayed major shortfalls in democratic procedure and reliable administration. And it was not only the party’s political rivals who noted this, but also top-ranking PASOK officials. And as a reaction to these phenomena, there began a popular movement for change – of the administration’s representatives and methods – representing all social strata across the country… . And this is when the party decided to implement its leadership change – a pre-election tactic which followed all the rules of commercial marketing: promoting a new product or an old one in new, impressive packaging…
