The people must also rally
Greece has a long way to go before it restores its credibility among its international creditors and European peers. To achieve this, the government needs to take the following steps: Firstly, Prime Minister George Papandreou must demonstrate that it is he who is calling the shots and that he will indeed be implementing the government’s Stability and Growth Program, while ignoring the sirens of populism from within his ruling PASOK party. Next, the markets need to see these decisions immediately implemented in the form of laws and actions. Last but not least, Greeks need to prove that they are mature enough to accept tough, yet just, measures that will inevitably have an adverse impact on the lifestyle of many people, especially those who have become accustomed to living exclusively off the state. If the prime minister does not strengthen his resolve and if the population fails to back him at this crucial juncture, we will be forced to endure even stricter measures that will be imposed by some other power, be it the European Union or the International Monetary Fund. Such an intervention would seriously harm social cohesion and our national dignity.
