Ideologues
There is much talk lately over the need to take drastic measures to curb political and business entanglements. Such an endeavor inevitably involves some complexities but the major problem is clearly the absence of political will. This is the main reason why, despite the extensive rhetoric, the end result is negligible. In truth, both the ruling Socialists and the conservative opposition, each in their own ways and within the contours of each of their plans, have moved in an extremely «discreet» fashion, resulting in the ambiguities and the delays in drawing up an institutional framework for the media. It is common knowledge that the ballot on organic law, which will define the constitutional provision on the concept of the «basic shareholder,» has not yet taken place. The initiative by 30 deputies from PASOK, New Democracy and the Greek Communist Party (KKE) marked a change in this inertia. These deputies all signed a document containing fierce criticism of televised media as well as on the quality and objectivity of their information. Furthermore, their petition denounces media talk of censorship as misleading, saying that is is aimed at sustaining the present situation of immunity. The deputies stress that, should the Constitution be transgressed, the media will grow into an extra-institutional power able to manipulate democracy and, eventually, relegate politicians to being mere employees. Finally, they demand that the State implement existing legislation regarding the collection of huge debts owed by media owners to the social security funds and public corporations. The deputies’ call is significant solely because it describes things as they are and because it brings the focus back on to an issue that has been avoided by the majority of politicians. It is indicative that the majority of the 30 deputies who signed the petition do not belong to the privileged political class nor are they included among the television channels’ favorites. The fact that the group contains some dubious political figures does not cancel the initiative. It rather underscores the size of the problem. The leading cadres of both parties, those who rule us or aspire to, tend to keep silent. Not only do they avoid coming into conflict with the media barons, some of them even offer their services in order to win their favor or backing. It is no coincidence that it is the marginalized and the unrepentant ideologues who dare to pull the chestnuts out of the fire.
