Sooner or later, George Papandreou, former Greek Prime Minister and President of the Socialist Party (PASOK), a man whose actions were incompetent and erratic, who probably would never have held his position had he not been the son of Andreas Papandreou, will not run as candidate in the forthcoming party election for the presidency of PASOK. Not surprising when one considers everything he did and did not do.

By Nikos Chrysoloras

Here in Greece, we shouldn’t be saddened by the fact that some of us believed and voted (through necessity rather than choice) for George Papandreou. We should be saddened by the image of the descendents: For honestly, who, amongst the former prime minister’s prospective ‘heirs’ is in any position to manage Greece? Loverdos, Minister of Health and Social Solidarity, who all but permanently cries on TV? Chrysochoidis who apparently “shined” at the Ministry for the Protection of the Civilian, but faded at the Ministry of Development? Venizelos,Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, who despite his eloquence and impressive educational background, has all but failed in any Ministerial post he has had? Or Diamantopoulou, current Minister of Education, who still hasn’t given out the books to our children?

Please tell me of someone, anyone who has earned an honest day’s wage in the private sector in their life? Is there anyone, from the aforementioned, who has ever lived in fear of being dismissed from their job? Who has struggled to get ahead merely due to the merit of his/her resume? Who would you trust, again from the above, to actually run your business?

The same applies for the New Democracy Party here in Greece. However, we will discuss this matter another time.

I remember Simitis’ (PASOK) second four year term, characterized by immobility and resignation. We all said “it can’t possibly get any worse.” But we were proved wrong. We were heard to say the same thing about Costas Karamanlis (New Democracy). Even after the straitjacket that George Papandreou attempted to make us wear, we said “it definitely can’t get any worse than this”. Mr. Papadimos’ three party government and all that it entails, unfortunately makes us suspect that we are wrong yet again. It is when you see the list of wannabe prime ministers from the PASOK party, then you realize that “YES, things can definitely get worse.”

The only question that begs to be asked now is “where does this downhill trend end?”