PASOK’s hazardous dawdling
The Socialist administration of George Papandreou yesterday announced that it intends to postpone a decision on so-called «closed» occupations until after the summer. The government is making a huge mistake. The much-anticipated structural reforms which are necessary in order to remedy the chronic shortcomings of the Greek economy as well as to create new opportunities for economic growth cannot be postponed any longer. No one can possibly predict what the social and political conditions will be like in the fall. However, it will most probably be even more difficult to introduce such measures at that time. The PASOK government was late in taking measures that would strengthen fiscal discipline. Now it is once again dragging its feet in taking the necessary measures to stimulate growth. The prime minister should reconsider the government’s policy on the issue. Greece cannot afford to lose more time before eventually doing what is, after all, the obvious.
