Beyond the occasional battles of political impressions such as the ones fought in Parliament on Tuesday, there is, unfortunately, the harsh reality that cannot be dealt with divisive conflicts or pointless attacks. Aside from the social tension that is not being vented, the government has to face two major problems; the refugee crisis and the upcoming program review, both of which are testing the government’s cohesion and efficiency.
The European Commission’s report on Greece’s inability to adequately protect its borders and document the refugees is loud warning. When a series of countries debate the possibility of expelling Greece from the Schengen are, it is clear that there is no more room for delays and procrastination. Just as certain as it is that a country like Greece cannot deal with this huge wage of refugees, our delays and shortcomings give them the alibis to not assume their share of the responsibility.
On the other hand, the recent leaks from the IMF that the pensions must be slashed by up to 15% to make the pension system sustainable indicates that the negotiation for the upcoming review will be anything but a walk in the park. In this case as well the government’s delays are creating a hostile environment.
You don’t make things easier when on the one hand you want the IMF to leave the institutions quartet and on the other you are quick to state that you are in favor of cooperating with it; more so when you accuse the opposition of being the IMF’s fifth column.
Instead of aiming for a minimum consensus, you undermine it by focusing on the internal party balances. Only now there is no room for hard negotiations, such as the one we experienced in the summer, with all the known consequences.
The Prime Minister and the government must finally decide what they want, what they aim for and what their negotiation limits are. Because it is certain that the pointless blustering and prolongation of the uncertainty not only leads nowhere, but it further exacerbates the financial and social crisis.
TO VIMA
