Over the past two years the Minister of Finances Yannis Stournaras, who was recently transferred to the Bank of Greece, implemented and defended a dynamic financial policy.
Irrespective of whether one agrees or disagrees with its structure and aggressive nature, Mr. Stournaras gave that policy and political and ideological dimension.
Additionally, he assumed complete responsibility for its implementation and managed the many reactions, but above all, he enforced it on his colleagues, thus ensuring its performance to the greatest degree.
He supported it forward without any hesitations or reservations, clashed with experienced politicians over it and openly propagandized it, paying significant political cost.
In this respect and to the extent that the financial policy will not change, the gap he left behind him is already obvious.
His successor, Mr. Gikas Hardouvelis, has a completely different profile.
He appears mild-mannered, has not yet made a mark and possibly needs time for greater considerations; perhaps he does not believe in the power of communication like his predecessor and remains quiet, or rather deeply laconic for the time being.
However the change from Mr. Stournaras’ communication blitzkrieg to Mr. Hardouvelis’ calm has a political significance.
The political times remains extremely dense and prompts new events and developments, while the tension of the observed financial policy demands explanations, arguments and obviously to be defended.
Otherwise the doubts expressed both from within and beyond the country will increase, frustration will dominate and all those who treated the latest cabinet reshuffle as a “government deconstruction reshuffle” will be verified.
Antonis Karakousis
