Since the beginning of last June, the Prime Minister and his apprentice mediatitians are anguishing to find a new “story” to draw the attention of the Greek people, away from the hard content of the 1st evaluation of the Greek Programme, concluded last May. They realise that its conclusion and the most plausible scenario for the 2nd evaluation figure in the eyes of their partisans as an ultra-Right capitulation of the “first-ever Government of the Left”.
Mr. Tsipras’s Harry Potter (alias Nick Pappas) thought that he had discovered the plot for the disorientation of the Greek people, away from the harsh content of the May evalutation, in his unconstitutional law that was dismantled by the Decision of the State Council, last October. For five months the Government promoted the tale of the presumed cleaning-up of the mess of TV channel “cesspools” (according to one deputy Minister) and their owners. The end result is that it was self-ridiculed.
Recently, a fresh performance opened to convince us that the 2nd evaluation will not last for 9 months – as the 1st did – but three or four weeks, so that the coveted discussion of debt relief could follow en suite. The IMF appeared as deus ex machina with whom Mr. Tsipras would blackmail our creditors. However, the IMF put forward, as a prime condition for its joining the Programme, additional measures and a 4th Programme, a deadly anathema to SYRIZANEL. A series of clashes followed, over a possible debt haircut and the size of primary surpluses, between the “Institutions” and the IMF (still perceived as an “ally”).
Surprisingly, the Eurogroup at the recommendation of ECB approved the short-term debt relief measures that were in the pipeline for some time. Mr. Tsipras celebrated this heaven-sent manna that distracted public opinion, away from the labour market liberalisation measures and other thorny pre-requisites of the 2nd evaluation.
We had fulfilled our flaming desire. We had unexpectedly obtained “debt-relief”. No urgency now about the 2nd evaluation and its thorns. Tsakalotos, who the day before had foreseen an “honest compromise” now firmly stated that we refuse the talk of any measures beyond 2018. He also pushed forward the Labour Minister Ms Achtsioglou, who renounced in disgust any labour market measures. In the final act, Mr. Tsipras, in person, distributes some 600 million euros to the exterminated pensioners and takes back the imposition of a VAT hike on the last batch of islands.
At this point, IMF kicked off with the blog of our well-known Mr. Tompsen, who said that further reforms and other measures beyond 2018 are in order. Our good friend Mr. Schauble also kicked at the non-agreed gifts of Mr. Tsipras. He asked the Eurogroup, whether they are compatible with the Greek Programme, whereupon the Eurogroup promptly replied that they are not. The Prime Minister insists that we do whatever we like with the extra primary surpluses, although he knows he has signed the opposite.
That way, from the euphoria of 10 days ago at our “debt relief”, we suddenly find ourselves in a ring where everybody shoots at everybody else, anything, from banana skins to hard punches in the face. Mr. Tsipras runs away for a “political” solution to Brussels and Berlin, his main demand now being to throw out of the Quartet the hateful IMF. He chooses to ignore that the Bundestag has approved help to Greece, on the condition of IMF participation and that Mrs Merkel has committed herself to that.
In so many words, before the eyes of the “Institutions”, investors and everybody else, Greece has changed colour, yet another time. From the good boy that voted and applied reforms, it has once more become the black sheep that kicks over the milk pot that the “Institutions” gave to sustain it on its feet. A replay of the Act of last July; only this time Mr. Tsipras, instead of a referendum, threatens an electoral suicide.
Let us go back to the ring. Who will win? Are we stating the obvious? Whoever is stronger! Are you under the impression that this is Mr. Tsipras? Who bothers with him? At the maximum, Europeans and Schauble may feed him a GREXIT.
Therefore, from joyous celebrations we are back to exorcisms. The reason why? For, our Prime Minister cannot grow up to European realities. He cannot grasp that now he is a 40 year old Prime Minister and not a chairman of his 15-member school class council. No matter how much his heart is torn, when he sees his mates without a broad Left smile, the “Institutions” are not moved a bit. And why should they? Has he counted how many times he has sworn at them or even tricked them? Has he forgotten the tapping of their phones while in Greece, or how many times he has changed a political wig?
Then, how on earth can someone be reconciled with such apparatchiks as Deputy Minister Zouraris who shares out 16 Greek islands to the Turks because – he says – we can take them back any time. Or former Minister of Justice Paraskevopoulos who has publicly stated that the Greek flag is a symbol only when flown on a flag post of an official building and away from it, is a common rag that we can burn in public? Or the law of the same brain, according to which criminals serving a ten-year sentence are released after two years to go on to Germany and rape and kill another 19-year old girl. The incompetence of this Government, even to put up 100 tents with legos to protect refugees is legendary. They cannot even make a statement without some gross mistake.
The Prime Minister, his friend “Kiddie” Kammenos and their Government have made themselves a public danger. As long as they stay, Mr. Zouraris, we cannot be saved either by the Greek tongue or the poems of Mr. Kourakis, your predecessor. On the feast of Saint Eleutherios (“ a free man” in Greek), I conclude with only one wish: GOOD FREEDOM (not to say good riddance).
From Maximos 15 December 2016