The mission must be carried out
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis yesterday told his Cabinet in no uncertain terms that it was time to get serious about curbing the squandering of public funds and cracking down on corruption. The premier unveiled a set of measures that are designed to reduce public spending at a time when the European Union is watching closely to see what Greece is doing to reduce its deficit. Everyone is now hoping that the government ministers will obey Karamanlis’s orders and that those who fail to do so are promptly sacked. The country can no longer afford to waste time on any ministers that pursue their own agenda, especially now that we are in the midst of a deep global financial crisis. This was made abundantly clear during yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. However, having laid out his plans so clearly, Karamanlis’s role takes on even greater significance. Responsibility now rests on the shoulders of the prime minister to make sure that his demands are fully implemented.
