It is not enough for the government and parties to simply state that the pension reform is the country’s biggest problem. They have an obligation to tell the people; to convince pensioners on the one hand and employees (especially the young) on the other, they are not going for an ephemeral patch up, but rather they are promoting a long-term, sustainable solution at all cost. It is rather tragic to carry out a pension reform every two-three years and to find ourselves in a worse condition that before.
The presentation of Mr. Giannitsis on Tuesday revealed the extent of the problem, as well as the current government plan’s disproportionate burden on the younger generations. He underlined that the pension system was instrumental in generating the crisis of 2009. Cumulatively the deficits and public funding for the pension system amounted to 71 billion euros, or 83% of the total budget deficits of 2006-2009. The deficits that were covered by the State in turn represent 83.6% of the increase of public debt between 2006 and 2009 and 405.2% for between 2010 and 2014.
This indicates that the situation cannot carry on because it is undermining the country and economy as a whole. It is absurd for young people, who are called upon to cover this black hole with their contributions, to get paid less than pensioners.
Obviously there are no simple and pain-free solutions. The political system is to blame for the current situation, but we consented to it since we rejected all realistic proposals in the past. Consequently, the cost is much higher for everyone now; for those who reacted and those who had made plans for their life and whose expectations remain unfeasible.
So, one more patch that only delays the inevitable. Let us dare stare reality in the eyes, first the government, to realistically determine what can be saved and who will pay the highest cost. Anything else is a waste of time that will not be to anyone’s benefit – neither the government, nor the people who will foot the bill in the end.
TO VIMA
