The government of Mr. Tsipras is being tested in many ways. The tolerance he gained with his second electoral win in September is quickly being spent. He is already facing reactions from the social groups that passionately supported him since the 2014 European elections.

Farmers, self-employed, small-scale producers, pensioners, employees and the unemployed are not sensing any meaningful change, nor do they feel that their expectations are being met. Instead, all they see are words and untimely decisions, fully prepared by the once-hated troika.

Under these circumstances, the leftist government is losing the reserves of trust which it had amassed in the past, since its actions and decisions are a far away from the promises and proclamations.

The slogans are also wearing off. Mr. Tsipras promised that no home will end up in the hands of bankers and now the government is trying to convince everyone that 40% of indebted homeowners are protected. The truth is that not even 20% of the over-indebted households will avoid the threat of a possible auction.

Likewise, the government promised a productive reconstruction without new taxes and now they are imposing heavy taxes even on the Greek winemaking industry, which managed to become internationally competitive in adverse conditions and on its own strengths.

After the shock with the pensions occurs in a short while, nothing will remain of the left government’s glamour.

SYRIZA and its president are now paying for the populism and incessant sloganeering of the past. They are going through everything their predecessors went through, who invested in myths and deception to manage the crisis and bankruptcy.

Of course their ability to effectively lead the country safely and in one piece out of the crisis is being disputed. It is no coincidence that all of the government’s decisions are being disputed, indefensible and ridiculed by popular opinion.

The government’s last resort is authoritarianism, bad and defensive propaganda, threats of lawsuits and the criminalization of everything, in order to remain in power and for its benefits.

Only when the authority becomes repugnant, nothing can save it…

Antonis Karakousis