Beyond the financial impact, the crisis that has plagued our country for the past six years has also contributed towards the decline of democratic institutions. The highest cost, of course, was paid by the political power that never managed to shake off its major responsibilities all these years for the situation we are experiencing.
The ease with which it adopted demagogic and populist approaches led to the proliferation of a generalized climate of unreliability, which undermines all efforts to regain its value. The ease with which it turns to anti-European rhetoric is harming our fragile relationship with our partners and cultivates pointless delusions among the people.
The President of the Republic, irrespective of his personal opinion, has a duty and obligation to express the whole of society in his public statement, if possible, rather than the opinions of the government majority. He cannot leave a shadow of a doubt that he is disputing the country’s essential direction, or even allow any room for malicious misinterpretations.
Contrary to his predecessors, Mr. Pavlopoulos has decided that he can publicly intervene with a far greater rate that what these special circumstances demand. He often creates the impression that they exceed his intentions, such as when he noted a few days ago that the “economy and currency only have value when they serve man”.
In the present circumstances it is clear that any reference to the currency will spark reactions and raise questions. Especially from a person who comes from a party whose founder fought hard against the dominant beliefs of his time to secure the country’s membership in the European family.
In no case can the difficulties in the European Union today dispute this sovereign choice of our country. Any thought of a rupture with Europe would be catastrophic for Greece. In a period where the anti-European voices are growing, it would be good to avoid any allusions, even unintentionally, which fuel such beliefs.
TO VIMA
