A lack of substance
We have reached the end of the election campaign without any substantial discussion of the country’s major problems. And the blame for this lies chiefly with the ruling party. In order to avoid accountability, it has focused on vague future prospects, systematically steering clear of any discussion of specific issues. But opposition New Democracy must also shoulder some of the responsibility. Despite its clear lead in all opinion polls – a fact which has given it the «air» of victory – the party has not succeeded in meeting expectations (which it itself had set) in the election campaign. However, ND should be apportioned a smaller portion of the blame as the majority of the media supported the ruling party. Some responsibility should also be attributed to the Left. Divided and clinging to outmoded forms of opposition, it is losing its traditional voters. If some are pleased by the lack of any systematic discussion, it is those who serve – and are served by – the preservation of a wretched and corrupt state. Take the example of former ND deputy Stefanos Manos, who was «recruited» to PASOK. His real betrayal is not to his old party. In the final analysis, PASOK’s neoliberalism is actually closer to the tractable politician’s outlook. But Manos cannot convince us that his convictions will be able to gain any headway in the context of the web of fixed interests supporting Papandreou.
