Right now, Greek citizens have to understand that it is not the time for
political experiments. They have to understand that an experienced and
knowledgeable leadership is needed and that, besides his experience
and good will, George Papandreou has proven that he is not acting
for either his own or his narrow party interests. His decisiveness and
willingness in taking tough measures and steering the country through
the tough financial situation do not stem from a sense of masochism
and pleasure from the suffering of others, but from the same sense of
responsibility and courage of a captain steering a wreckage through
tough seas waiting to be rescued and trying to find a safe harbor when
none is visible in the horizon. A mutiny at this ultimate hour is perhaps
understandable, but, apart from an expression of exasperation and
public feeling, does not seem to offer a viable alternative to pulling
together, offering one's services and mutual support.
Gaddafi's son is right that free and fair elections are the only way out
of the crisis in Libya. Since, however, his father had forgotten everything
about elections for 40 years and, since he has been taking advantage of
this parental forgetfulness himself for several years, it is only fair to
require that, at least the two of them, would not be eligible to run in
upcoming elections. Therefore, they have to relinquish power, agree
to leave the country, allow some alternative authority, perhaps the
U.N., to organize and monitor free and fair elections, and, if they
wish to do so, come back and stand on the same footing as every
other candidate to get elected from the second free elections in Lidya
onwards. I think that that might be the best they can negotiate and the
best that anyone else with minimal democratic sensitivities might be
willing to grant them under the political climate that has been developed
in Libya, primarily due to their family and its clinching to power without
any substantial proof of public support.
Today, there is widespread unrest in Greece over the new "intermediate"
term austerity measures that the Greek Government is supposed to pass
through parliament in order for the country to get additional funds to
meet its financial obligations and avoid defaulting on its debts. All these
phrases have been on the press for some time now, but they do not really
reflect the tough, honest reality. Greece may have not formally defaulted
on its debts, but its non-default status is artificially sustained day-in day-
out by new borrowing and, unless there is a turning point in its economic
output, this borrowing to pay debts on a rolling basis is unsustainable.
Moreover, Greece has already defaulted vis-a-vis the financial obligations
to its citizens. The Greek state has been imposing what it calls "social
solidarity" taxation, but this is nothing other than admittance that it
cannot fullfill
