Up to now, we haven’t been able to take a breath since November 2009, when the newly-elected George Papandreou administration discovered – or at least that is when they officially said they discovered – that there are no money and that we owe so much and we are considered so untrustworthy that only with an iniquitous and unbearable interest rate could we borrow money in order to survive.And then came the black spring of 2010 and the Memorandum of Understanding No. 1, the Troika became a part of our life and our life became something different than what we used to know. Something dark, fearful and terrible.
Yet, we adjusted no matter how painful it was. We accepted salary cuts, redundancies, increased taxes, delayed or suspended payments, everyday abuses and humiliations from Europe and the entire planet. We paid extravagant taxes without complaint – most of us at least – while the cost of living rose dizzyingly high, the VAT skyrocketed and our own life turned into a russian roulette due to the increased criminality. All around us, the orgies of the politicians and their associates went on triumphantly, the debt kept increasing and the reforms were postponed for later.And then came the Memorandum of Understanding No. 2, GAP’s dancing “escape” and the threat of the impending default. That is how we came up with an appointed government, a haircut that harmed our banks and social security funds mainly and the danger of gangs of illegal immigrants breaking into your house and killing your family after robbing and raping them present even in “secure” neighbourhoods.
And then the Lucas Papademos administration washed their hands and the demand for elections as a means of salvation became universal. And then came the May elections, which expressed anger and indignation, leading to a new adventure in limbo.That is how we came up with last week’s elections. The anger and indignation turned into a mad hope mingled with agony. And then it turned into fear. And then the new government was formed and the national feeling turned into joy. Exhilaration. Athens was celebrating on Wednesday. “Left wingers”, “right wingers”, people who are not interested in politics, fanatics, all out on the streets that smelled of night flower and joy, the air of Attica blowing over suntanned shoulders and the asphalt still emitting a warm sweetness. “We are saved”, “they are collaborating at last”, “the national team of Greece”. “Let’s see… Europe is changing, this is our chance!” were the most commonly-heard phrases. Of course, there were “buts” and “ifs”, doubts and fears. But Athens was celebrating. And Athens is the city that gives the pulse to the rest of the country.
And then came the next day. The government turned out to be “purely right” and not “the national team of Greece”, the problems and the unpaid bills came back to mind and Europe started murmuring once again. Yet, something has changed inside us: for the first time after what seemed like ages there is a tentative hope.It certainly takes time to change the decades-old corrupt system and the society that learnt to function in such a corrupt way. It is the only explanation that can be given to phenomena of “blues throwing out the greens” in state news agencies and ERT (Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation), with ladies that don’t work there (until now at least) going in and choosing the airier and sunnier offices. As women, however, they have a couple of things to their defence – first, an angry woman that takes revenge is a sight to behold; second, as we have seen more and more of this during the last months, we live in a country where women are an endangered species…
In any case, only when such incidents turn out to be isolated, will we break the bonds that tie us to what has been going on for the last thirty years. The world has changed: around us and inside us. It sounds funny, especially after the last elections, to talk of “left wingers” and “right wingers”. However, let’s suppose that there are people who remain “stuck” to the Left or to the Right. Are there any political parties that represent these people nowadays? And what exactly? And for how long – it has been made crystal clear that the political parties express different views before they assume (any) power than after doing so. It resembles the “before” and “after” in diet advertisements. Since we talk of diets and we are all on a diet – thanks to the summer and the Troika – should the citizens realize that the only thing that has changed after last Sunday’s elections are the guests at the table of power, they will not forgive it.Everything else can be forgiven. But the people cannot be fooled so easily anymore. They know very well what is going on and vote with sang-froid. The government and the political parties that support it must show three elements (and they will be enough): Justice, consistency and a bit of attention on the manner. The manner is not just typical, the result of good or bad upbringing and education. Most “wars” in times of piece break out because of bad handling – and are won or lost thanks to another good or bad handling. Moreover, when it comes to real war, tactics – the manner – is everything.
If all of us take care of these three elements – governors and citizens, employers and employees, Europeans and Greeks – everything is going to be really fine. We need it. We have to become a country again and build a rationally-functioning state before we start thinking our “crazy” stuff again. Until then, “heads in”, calmly, rationally and moderately. If such a thing is possible in the middle of a hot greek summer when nothing seems moderate: from the heat of the sun to the indescribable beauty of Greece – as usual.But if injustice, dishonesty, pettiness, arrogance, fraud and scandal continue to dominate our political arena and govern the place, then God save us all and the government – that is why several new ministers kissed the Archbishop’s hand during their oath ceremony. The fools are looking for a middleman again!
