It is possibly the first time that the SYRIZA-led government is faced with so much anger, from broad sections of Greek society. It is noteworthy that the government managed to rally against it people who in the previous elections and the referendum were in opposing camps.

The government is now paying for failing to realize the impossible promises it made and is now forced to clash with the harsh reality of numbers. It is still paying for the tactics it systematically used in the past, to adopt all sort of demands and claims and support all forms of reactions and mobilization.

How can it argue that the pension system cannot carry on when only a while ago the government promised the 13th pension and raises? It is now paying the cost of populism in which it invested to rise to power and the refusal to comprehend the catastrophic consequences it had on the “old” political system, when it was faced with the prospect of the country going bankrupt.

Unfortunately, even now that it is faced with the anger and disappointment, it does not seem to realize the consequences of a populist policy. It claims that the strikes and protests are a legitimate reaction that will benefit the negotiation tact, as if it is unaware of its capabilities and the financial situation in general.

Only the witticisms about the hard negotiation don’t pass anymore. The measures that are coming, along with the pension and tax reforms cannot be covered up or sugarcoated. They require boldness, a political plan and a minimum national consensus to mediate the reactions of society and to convince the people that the new sacrifices will be fair and finally put an end to the constant decline. Unfortunately there is nothing on the horizon…

TO VIMA