PM first, socialist later
Maybe the government’s reluctance to make necessary decisions can be put down to misperception. Perhaps Prime Minister George Papandreou believes that he was elected for his socialist vision and numerous campaign promises. The voters, however, did not cast their ballots for the president of Socialist International, but in national elections at an extremely critical time. They were fed up with the inept management of the state’s affairs under two New Democracy administrations and ultimately chose Papandreou in the hope that he would pull the country out of the crisis with effective administration and strict supervision of the country’s finances. The premier has many well-intentioned goals for significant structural changes and everyone should support him in these efforts. Right now, though, he needs to put his role as a socialist aside and act like the prime minister of a country that is at risk of going bankrupt and losing its international credibility. Even though the decisions he has to adopt may not be in accordance with his political beliefs, great leaders are those who can make unpleasant decisions when circumstances demand them.
