A gradual adjustment
It has been nine months since New Democracy came to power with a more than comfortable majority – not long enough to draw comprehensive conclusions about the new government’s performance, but long enough to get an idea about what the new regime is all about and where it is going. It seems that the general impression being formed about the government is that its pace of activity is rather sedate, and that it tackles major and enduring problems on all levels with a technique of gradual adjustment… However, an objective critic of the achievements of the current government must bear in mind the stress and responsibility of the pre-Olympic period, compounded by the European elections in June, which meant that little radical action could be taken for at least its first four to five months. From September onward, the government was finally able to focus its energies on the real business of government. But this took place in a climate of conflict and skepticism that was not only provoked by challenges from the opposition party but also by gripes from within ND’s party ranks… Politically, the government is not under threat. Its grace period may have expired but the public, for the most part, is still giving it leeway, largely because the opposition is failing to offer a viable alternative…
