What is at stake…
The only new thing about PASOK is its power grouping. But even this lacks democratic legitimacy, while the influences that lie behind it belong to the realm of dark speculation. The aim, however, is not merely to change the executive committee of the ruling party. And Papandreou has already transformed the fight for electoral victory into the struggle for survival of an aging, corrupt and reactionary regime. What is at stake in next month’s elections is nothing less than the entire status quo – a fact that PASOK’s new leadership is entirely aware of. Indeed, this is why it is trying to break its ties to Simitis’s administration. But because the new leadership has not been formed as the result of serious, open and democratic debate, the overhaul which Papandreou is attempting appears to be a pretext – cobbled together for pre-electoral reasons. We would see real change if enough MPs were to support new legislation cracking down on corruption. Tackling the links between certain politicians and businessmen are what a new government should be focusing on. But a new administration will not merely be judged because it has imposed greater transparency on the activities of those in power. It will also have to reveal the workings of corruption, to identify those who benefit from it. And Papandreou is very aware that next month’s elections will be the deciding factor regarding the fate of corruption in this country.
