It started off as a divine liturgy, only to end as a dreary memorial. From the “bases of death” (which are to leave but are still here) to Koskotas and from the almost-leader and Prime Minister Akis to Halak and the corn smugglers, we have all lived through the trivialization of slogans and apparent collapse of the political party that celebrated the “3rd of September” a few days ago.
The Greek people suffered a lot during the first years of the Change. Before the ink for the “even better days” slogan managed to dry, the leadership was expelling the “leftist Arsenis” in order to task the “rightist Simitis” with the first bout of austerity. Then we had the scandal period. The Greek people’s vote put them in the dustbin of History. Then PASOK returned to power, but its leader was a different man. His illness, the special courts and the tense political conflicts changed him. His death heralded the start of a new era.
Political life has been tested ever since. The prime ministerial democracy has caused many problems. The combination of demonstrable incompetence and the financial crisis has created political monstrosities. The more impudent discovered conspiracies and with their behind-the-scenes activities they are subverting the democratic faction. Some appear to be acting like traffickers for other parties.
They are negotiating transfers to other parties to succeed.
One thing is certain. That PASOK cannot be inherited, split up or put up for sale. And it will not follow the traffickers who are attempting to desecrate it.
Stavros P. Psycharis
Originally published in the Sunday print edition
