The scene takes place at the political office of Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis, which is housed at the time in Parliament. It is spring 1976, two years after the elections in 1974, when New Democracy scored a massive win and the party founder had established the first democratic government since the fall of the junta.
The leader of the second party is the president of the Center Union Georgios Mavros, PASOK was the third party with Andreas Papandreou at the helm and KKE was fourth under Charilaos Florakis. Konstantinos Karamanlis took the initiative and decision to officially introduce the post of the leader of the main opposition, which provides certain “powers” to the leader of the second party.
Therefore Georgios Mavros is the leader of the opposition and privileged interlocutor of Prime Minister Karamanlis, who has called PASOK as “the Left of the Left”.
We return to the Prime Minister’s political office where ambassador Petros Molyviatis (director of the political office) is informing the government president that G. Mavros “has requested to be informed on the developments in Cyprus”
– What should I tell him, Mr. President? Asked the ambassador.
– The less you can!… responded Karamanlis.
A few hours later the ambassador visited Georgios Mavros at his office on Pindarou Street and then returned to the Prime Minister’s office.
– What did he ask you?… What did you tell him?…
– Nothing, Mr. President! From the moment I got there he told me his opinions on Cyprus and I could not speak. After I heard him talk for about an hour, I greeted him and left!
A lot has changed since then. The protagonists from that era are long gone, Greece is different, as are the people, international situations have changed. Only the political life in our country seems to remain stable and most of the protagonists are unrepentant politicians.
The citizens of this country, tomorrows body electorate that will determine the future of Greece with their vote, deserve to know what is going on stage and behind the stage.
It is unacceptable for the government to need special consultation to inform the people on the problems the country faces.
The lack of information for the problems and positions of all parties makes it easy to keep one’s position vague. That way, the voters hear a lot but understand very little.
The voters though are not fools and they will prove it.
Stavros P. Psycharis
Originally published in the Sunday print edition
