Lessons from Spain
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar’s recent interview with Kathimerini and four other European newspapers should be of particular interest to Greece’s public and its political representatives. Greece and Spain, two countries of similar temperament, both, over the course of the 20th century, underwent conditions of political aberration, civil war and dictatorship before returning, almost simultaneously, to a state of democratic normality. With a large agricultural sector, deep-seated structural problems and a low per-capita income (in fact, lower than the Greek one), Spain became an EU member state later than Greece. Since then, Spain has far surpassed Greece in economic growth, competitiveness and employment, and it has achieved not only nominal but also genuine convergence with the more advanced northern European states, a fact which allows it to assume an enhanced international role as a bridge connecting Europe to the Arab Maghreb Union and Latin America. Why has Spain enjoyed so much success while Greece has seen the gap separating it from the fast-track countries widen further? Aznar’s indirect response is that it is the countries with the highest degree of economic adaptability and political flexibility which have the highest economic performance, while the ones that are lagging in their introduction of the requisite reforms are constantly losing ground. Driven by a justified self-confidence fostered by the economic achievements of his government – which, it should be noted, has avoided the social unrest which is being experienced today by Silvio Berlusconi’s government in Italy – Aznar is calling upon the other Europeans to proceed with brave reforms in the crucial areas of taxation, social security and employment, if they wish to avoid seeing «the USA in the stratosphere, while Europe is left tied to the ground.» These remarks ought to be seriously considered by Greece’s politicians, particularly by the main opposition party. The Spanish example demonstrates that giving a clear answer to the economic and social challenges of the time is the only path for restoring political hegemony over the forces of neo-liberalism. The conservative New Democracy opposition ought to take a lesson from Aznar, who bears an ideological similarity with them, and finally put forward a clear political vision for the country that will be capable of inspiring the citizens. Should it fail to do this, an electoral victory will either be indefinitely postponed or will constitute a short break, followed by a disorderly retreat.
