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Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said after a recent Cabinet meeting that he doesn’t want his government to look isolated. Karamanlis wants people to stop speculating about a possible Cabinet reshuffle, but the item is clearly on his agenda and could take place as early as June. But here is the burning question: By reforming his government, would the prime minister make it more effective by ensuring ministers don’t issue conflicting statements or make repeated mistakes? The question is critical because the government’s biggest problem is its lack of political direction. And Karamanlis must also change his tactics. He must learn to solve disputes between ministers more swiftly and decisively. He must also learn to map out government initiatives and strictly monitor their implementation. In recent statements, Karamanlis focused on his goverment’s responsibilities and avoided making any references to attempts to undermine him. This was a good exercise in public relations. Such attacks have been made, but they are not the chief reason for the government’s failures. The blame lies with a passiveness in many sectors that, in some cases, verges on lethargy. The most recent example is the way the postponement of May Day was handled.
