A costly, pointless PR stunt
Prime Minister George Papandreou and many of his Socialist ministers have repeatedly issued warnings about the country’s dire fiscal situation, but the government apparatus continues to operate as if nothing has changed. While the premier was issuing pledges about curbing Greece’s wasteful and inefficient state apparatus, PASOK ministers, deputy ministers, public utility officials, unionists and party cadres were competing for front-row space at the annual fiesta of the state nomenclature known as the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair. The event was a repeat of similar events organized by both the Socialist as well as conservative governments in past years. The only addition to the pointless fiesta was the transport of the new, sizable Cabinet to Thessaloniki – a move that was nothing but a mere publicity stunt. The country is faced with bankruptcy but the state and party nomenclature continue to operate in their own inimitable irrational manner.
