The dramatic situation of the public finances in the last few months was categorically illustrated in a revealing interview with two officers at the General Accounting Office, in the Sunday edition of To Vima. The two officers spoke of a daily struggle, a constant worry to find the necessary money to pay wages, pensions and the State’s minimum obligations, in their effort to perform their duty.
It is tragic for civil servants who respect their role and duty – and thankfully there are many – to realize the gravity of the situation better than their political supervisors. Unfortunately this was reality for a great length of time in the recent past. Some were concerned about finding money to avoid a collapse, while other carried on daydreaming, making conflicting statements on everything, oblivious to the consequences of their babbling.
The fact the economy did not collapse, despite the blows it suffered, was a result of some sectors in public administration trying to do their job in the best possible way. Just like we can attribute many wrong estimates to the infamous troika, we must also recognize that the observation of public finances has greatly improved and organized.
So despite the uncertainty, despite the capital controls, it is possible to monitor the revenue and cash reserves on a daily basis, in order to maintain a relative balance in public finances.
Clearly the diligence of some state employees is not enough to rebuild the economy. The politicians need to realize that the unrealistic promises have ended, that it is necessary to have a plan, organization and taking advantage of all honest and capable forces in public administration, so that the state may operate efficiently and reliably at some point. Because the ministers may come and go, but the state must operate, even if the politicians are living in their fantasies…
TO VIMA
