General Elections 2012: Critical Decisions for the Future of Greece

Lambros Kostandaras as Andreas Mavrogialouros - the consummate Greek politician

Today is Election Day in Greece and we go to the polls after over two years of crisis after crisis, across the board austerity, austerity without justice, two years of a government in paralysis which could not find any options apart from resorting to the IMF, a government whose ineptitude exposed Greek citizens all over the world to undeserved ridicule and humiliation, a government which preferred to sustain a bloated, corrupt, greedy and self-satisfied public sector where service was simply a euphemism, thus creating a class of new poor and homeless rather than clean up its act, make a fresh start, draw a line and put an end to years of the cronyism which got it to this point. 

An unprecedented rise in people looking through garbage bins, lines in soup kitchens and suicides have left people wondering where they too will end up and how they are going to feed their families if they too should suddenly become unemployed and unable.  

The Greek government's inability to create jobs and attract investments to keep it's young and highly educated professionals in Greece to work for Greece's future, effectively reversed the trend of the previous 20 years which saw Greeks repatriating, and a new generation of emigres, Greece's young people and professionals, people with ability and talent started to look abroad for employment.

Europe too has its share of the blame, instead of acting quickly to nip what started out as a credit crisis in the bud by standing firmly behind its EU allies, its indecisive and inept leadership ummed and ahhd for months, allowing the spreads to rise dangerously and the markets to go haywire while all Greeks were branded as lazy, coffee drinking, tax evading beach bums. 

Demonstration after demonstation and the resulting violence didn't help Greece's case either.

Two years ago today in fact, on May 6, 2010, one of these demonstrations ended in tragedy when thugs threw Molotov cocktails (petrol bombs) at a Marfin bank building in the centre of Athens, torching the building and causing three people and an unborn baby to lose their lives...

We were all branded hot heads and hooligans, and the whole of Greece a hotbed of violence, violence which was projected all over the world with great zeal by the world's media, nevermind that most of the demonstration violence was concentrated in little pockets around Syntagma Square and one or two blocks down the road people were able to sit at cafes peacefully continuing to drink their coffee. 

All this culminated last November with the resignation of elected PM George Papandreou and the appointment of Loukas Papademos as caretaker Prime Minister in order to get austerity measures and Memoranda passed to ensure liquidity and avoid 'official' bankruptcy. 

Public prosecutors and special investigation units have uncovered major scandals in the last few months and there seems to be some willingness to bring the perpetrators to justice. With the jailing of former Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, his wife and daughter a thread has begun to unravel. We hope Akis will not accept to be the only victim and that he will spill all the beans, taking his fellow 'untouchables' in power who didn't hesitate to put their hand in the honey jar of public sector corruption down with him and thus beginning the catharsis essential to Greece's new beginnings. 

It is time to think of all these things before casting our votes today for those of us who vote in Greece! Now it is up to us to speak. 

As we set off to the polling booth, we will repeat here, what we wrote on the day of the 2009 elections, simply because it is all still valid:

Our only criteria is what's best for Greece and our people, both in Greece and all over the world. Whichever party wins the elections, (if anyone does) we want them to put Greece and it's interests, both domestic and international, above everything else and that means taking many decisive and effective steps starting from Day 1! 

Greece does not have the luxury of time to grant any government 100 days to adjust!

Steps must be taken to save the economy from it's downward spiral and this involves a lot of things:

imposing and collecting taxes equitably, from each and everyone who earns income and not just the salaried employees (who have been milked dry by the barrage of extra taxes demanded in the last two years),

cracking down on all those who seek and get payments on the side, forcing people to bear unbearable debt burdens just so that they can obtain medical treatment or education for themselves or their loved ones, things to which they are entitled as part of a functional and organised society,

collecting social security payments from all, employees and public or private sector employers alike, to ensure continuity of pensions and benefits for those who qualify,

ensuring that everyone gets paid fairly, and does the work they are paid to do, whether they are in the public or private sector, whether or not they are related to, or political cronies of, the people in power,

ensuring that the public service is streamlined and brought down to manageable proportions so that it is not a burden to the National Economy by appointing employees based on their qualifications and their ability to do their job, not who they know, and by providing objectives and incentives to all employees, to ensure the high quality of the services provided to the public-at-large

and above all,

enforcing the laws of the country which should be applicable to everyone irrespective of the status of the person involved, rich or poor, whether they have connections to the corridors of power or not. Justice has to be seen to be done, quickly and equitably to be effective.

We personally will applaud any government that puts an end to the endemic corruption in our country and which effectively has placed us in this unenviable position. It is time to act to change all this and it needs to be changed from the top down!

The best way to lead is by example… let's hope all those politicians who have put their name forward for election remember this if they get elected.

Think, and above all, vote wisely - for Greece's sake, for our sake!

Kali Psifo :)

For those who love the classic Black and White Greek Movies here is one of our favourites, timeless frighteningly appropriate, especially in view of the corruption scandals that have occurred over the years and particularly those that have come to light more recently. It's a political satire, ' Yparhei kai Filotimo' with Lambros Konstandaras as Andreas Mavrogialouros, the consummate Greek politician...

Andreas Mavrogialouros is a minister of the Greek government who goes to visit a small village for the inauguration of a local maternity clinic. Going there he gets more than he bargained for but in the process discovers that his associates have been fooling him for years, using state funds to accumulate riches for themselves... 

Sound familiar? The film is over 50 years old and not much appears to have changed since then, but we are hopeful that this time they will...we no longer have the luxury of indulgence.... 

We at Global Greek World are hoping that our politicians have finally got the message and are genuinely ready to shed the dreadful image the people have of them. We are hoping that from tomorrow Greece will have a stable government that will change things for the better...




 

General Elections in Greece: Read, Analyse, Reflect...then Vote!

 Picture Source: From Sotiris Danezis' Collage on Facebook

We thought we would share with you this great profile put together by the English Edition of Kathimerini of the main parties running in tomorrow's Greek elections and which have a chance of getting into Parliament. We added Dimiourgia Xana which wasn't in the original list because we think there is quite a bit of support for this party and the things it stands for.

PASOK

Founded: 1974
Leader: Evangelos Venizelos

Brief history: The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) was formed by Andreas Papandreou following the collapse of the military dictatorship in 1974 and grew to be the dominant force in Greek politics for the next 38 years. It came to power in 1981 and became synonymous with a state-centric economic model and the broadening of the public sector. Heading the party’s so-called “modernizing” wing, Costas Simitis succeeded Papandreou in 1996. He led Greece into the euro on the back of some belt-tightening but made way for George Papandreou, Andreas’s son, before the 2004 elections as PASOK began to flag after many years in office and was unable to shake off its association with corruption. Following a period of unsure leadership, George Papandreou was elected prime minister in 2009 but soon had to deal with a major debt crisis that led to Greece being bailed out by the EU and IMF. PASOK’s reliance on higher taxes rather than public reforms and spending cuts to reduce Greece’s deficit undermined the party’s popularity further. Papandreou resigned as prime minister last November and as PASOK leader earlier this year. He was succeeded by one-time leadership rival and former Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

Main campaign points: Venizelos says he will ask the EU and IMF to extend Greece’s fiscal adjustment period by one year, until 2015, in order to ease the impact on taxpayers. He has also presented a “National Regeneration Plan” which is based on a reformed tax system that will remain stable for 10 years and will ease the burden on low income earners and pensioners. PASOK also advocates incentives for young people to turn to farming and steps to increase liquidity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The party has pledged to clamp down on illegal immigration and Greece's citizens' protection minister, a Socialist, recently announced plans to create 30 detention centers to house undocumented immigrants, who don't qualify for asylum, before they are deported. There is not much left of Papandreou's “green growth” policies in PASOK's new program.

Campaign slogan: Greeks are trying and will succeed
2009 election result: 43.92 percent
April 20 opinion poll rating: 14 percent

New Democracy

Founded: 1974
Leader: Antonis Samaras

Brief history: The conservative party was founded in 1974 by veteran politician Constantine Karamanlis, who became Greece’s first prime minister following the fall of the military dictatorship. Karamanlis stepped aside in 1980 and the party suffered a series of election defeats at the hands of PASOK before Constantine Mitsotakis led it to power in 1990. But his turbulent period in office ended in 1993 when an ND mutiny led by Antonis Samaras triggered the government's collapse and PASOK's return to power. Costas Karamanlis, nephew of Constantine, led the party to a narrow election defeat in 2000. In 2004, however, he became Greece’s youngest prime minister thanks to a big election win and a policy of appealing to the middle ground. However, Karamanlis’s government largely struggled to deliver on the economic and public sector reforms it had promised and in its later stages became embroiled in corruption scandals. It suffered a landslide defeat in 2009, leaving behind a burgeoning public deficit and debt. Rehabilitated after a long period in the political wilderness, Samaras succeeded Karamanlis and quickly sought to move the party to the right. New Democracy opposed the first EU-IMF bailout but last November reluctantly joined the coalition government that negotiated the second loan agreement.

Main campaign points: Samaras argues that the terms of the EU-IMF loan deal do not allow enough scope for growth. He advocates a 15 percent flat tax for business and the lowering of VAT. He also supports a fully fledged privatization program and has suggested that some 11 billion euros in savings that Greece has to make in 2013 and 2014 can come from slashing public sector waste. New Democracy has pledged to tighten up immigration rules and repeal a law allowing second-generation migrants to claim Greek citizenship. Samaras, who does not shy away from references to “God” or “the nation,” has sought to ramp up the conservatives' ethical message, promising to do away with deputies' parliamentary immunity from prosecution and set up a parliamentary committee to investigate past misdeeds that led to the country's economic meltdown.

Campaign slogan: Greece is going to make it
2009 election result: 33.48 percent
April 20 opinion poll rating: 21.5 percent

Communist Party of Greece (KKE)

Founded: 1918
Leader: Aleka Papariga



Brief history: Founded in the wake of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the Greek Communist Party was initially known as the Socialist Labor Party of Greece. It adopted Marxist-Leninist principles in 1924 and has since functioned according to democratic centralism.
It played a significant role in the formation of trade unions but the party was outlawed by dictator Ioannis Metaxas in 1936. Members of KKE played a significant role in Greece’s resistance to the Nazi occupation in World War II but political differences then sparked the civil war, which ended in 1949 and led to KKE being outlawed again. It did not regain legal status until the collapse of the military dictatorship in 1974. However, the Communist Party split into two: the “exterior,” which took its lead from Moscow, and the “interior,” which developed a more independent voice. The latter merged in 1989 with other leftist parties to form the Synaspismos coalition, which later became part of SYRIZA. KKE has maintained a staunch Marxist-Leninist line since then, refusing to cooperate with other parties -- even to organize strikes or demonstrations -- and insisting on nothing less than the overthrow of the capitalist system.

Main campaign points: KKE is the only party to openly favor a Greek exit from the eurozone and the European Union, arguing that the Arab Spring has opened up other avenues of cooperation. It wants a freeze on all private debts to the banks and the state until Greece exits the crisis, a minimum pension of 1,150 euros and a freeze on privatizations. Party leader Aleka Papariga says KKE will not take part in any coalition government and that voters should back her party so it can obstruct the imposition of measures that would damage workers’ interests and incomes. KKE wants to legalize immigrant workers and grant asylum to the victims of imperialist wars. It advocates scrapping Dublin II regulations, which enable European governments to send illegal immigrants back to the first EU country of entry.

Campaign slogan: Fight back
2009 election result: 7.54 percent
April 20 opinion poll rating: 11 percent

Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS)

Founded: 2000
Leader: Giorgos Karatzaferis

Brief history: LAOS, a right-wing nationalist party, was formed by Giorgos Karatzaferis in 2000 after he was expelled from New Democracy following his criticism of party leader Costas Karamanlis. While LAOS initially espoused an ultra-nationalist line and welcomed members with an extremist past, the party has -- at least publicly -- gradually eased some of its rhetoric, although it remains hardline on the immigration issue. LAOS was the only party apart from PASOK to vote in favor of the first bailout in 2010 and became a junior partner in the coalition government formed last November. Karatzaferis, however, decided to quit the administration shortly before the second loan agreement was voted in Parliament. In the process, LAOS lost its two most prominent MPs -- Makis Voridis and Adonis Georgiadis -- to New Democracy. Karatzaferis’s equivocal stance over the last few months led to a serious dip in LAOS’s poll ratings.

Main campaign points: LAOS is still a party that is based around the ubiquitous Karatzaferis, who is adept at using media coverage to his advantage. The party wants the mass repatriation of illegal immigrants in a bid to curb crime and unemployment, and has called for a change in the law to allow victims to shoot robbers. LAOS has said that the next Greek government should negotiate a new haircut with its lenders so that its debt falls to between 100 and 120 billion euros, or about a third of what it is now. It wants Germany to pay war reparations for crimes committed by the Nazi regime during its invasion of Greece in World War II.

Campaign slogan: Everything for Greece
2009 election result: 5.63 percent
April 20 opinion poll rating: 3 percent

Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA)

Founded: 2004
Leader: Alexis Tsipras

Brief history: SYRIZA was born out of the cooperation of a number of leftist groups, some with their roots in communist movements. Following a bumpy start, the coalition more than doubled the number of its MPs to 14 in the 2007 elections under the leadership of Alekos Alavanos. A year earlier, Alavanos had placed 30-year-old Alexis Tsipras on the party’s ticket for municipal elections in Athens to some success. In 2007, Tsipras was elected party leader at the improbable age of 33 and the party’s poll ratings soared as voters appeared encouraged by the leftists’ youthful look. However, this attraction proved fleeting and SYRIZA’s support dropped slightly in the 2009 elections, partly on the back of Tsipras adopting an equivocal stance during the unrest in December 2008 that followed the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy in Athens by a police officer. SYRIZA suffered a further blow in 2010, when four experienced MPs quit the party to form a new movement, Democratic Left, due to concerns about positions on a number of issues, most notably Greece’s relationship with the EU. In recent months, SYRIZA, which opposes the terms of the EU-IMF bailout, has seen its poll ratings rise again.

Main campaign points: Tsipras, who hopes he can lead SYRIZA to third place in the elections, has said he would accept support from the right-wing Independent Greeks if there were a possibility of forming a left-wing government that would oppose the terms of the new bailout. Although fuzzy on the question of keeping the euro, SYRIZA supports Greece's membership of the European Union, but opposes the belt-tightening measures mandated by the memorandum. It proposes sustainable economic policies, it rejects the EU's reformed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), it envisages the regeneration of workers' cooperatives, and rejects the deregulation of maritime transport. SYRIZA is in favor of abolishing the Dublin II treaty, legalizing all immigrant workers and speeding up the asylum process. The party advocates a change in the voting system and is in favor of a simple proportional representation, which would give all parties seats in Parliament based directly on their share of the vote.

Campaign slogan: They chose without us, we’re moving on without them
2009 election result: 4.60 percent
April 20 opinion poll rating: 13 percent

Ecologist Greens

Founded: 2002
Leader: Six-member committee led by Ioanna Kontouli

Brief history: Unlike some other European Union countries, the Greens have found it difficult to break into the political mainstream in Greece. Their most significant achievements were in 2009 when they won a seat in the European Parliament and more than doubled their support in the national elections despite falling short of entering the Greek Parliament.

Main campaign points: The Ecologist Greens favor a move to more sustainable development and the creation of jobs through “green growth.” They are calling for more emphasis to be placed on organic farming and sustainable fishing and for Greece to make better use of its renewable energy sources. In terms of economic policy, the Greens favor higher taxation for large incomes and lower taxes for SMEs. They propose lending from the European Central Bank and the issuing of eurobonds as a means of overcoming the debt crisis. Their stance would make them a potential coalition partner for a left-leaning government. The party wants a common immigration and asylum policy for the EU and a revision of the Dublin II treaty. It is in favor of decriminalizing drug use and the cultivation of drugs, particulalry marijuana, for personal use.

Campaign slogan: Think clearly
2009 election result: 2.53 percent
April 20 opinion poll rating: 3.5 percent

Democratic Left

Founded: 2010
Leader: Fotis Kouvelis

Brief history: Democratic Left was formed when four MPs quit SYRIZA in 2010 to form a more clearly pro-European movement. The party is led by Fotis Kouvelis, who briefly served as justice minister in the past. His mild-mannered approach has proved popular with many voters. Until April 20, Kouvelis was the only party leader with an approval rating of more than 50 percent. The party recently attracted several PASOK MPs who were ousted from the Socialists for voting against the new bailout. Kouvelis has ruled out having a fully fledged role in a coalition government with ND and PASOK but has hinted that Democratic Left might provide support in Parliament if agreement can be reached on certain policies.

Main manifesto points: Democratic Left rejects Greece's bailout deal but is keen on the country's eurozone membership. It advocates finding the 11 billion euros in savings for 2013 and 2014 from alternative sources, such as modest improvements in fighting tax evasion, corruption and cutting public waste. It calls for the introduction of eurobonds and a more active role for the ECB. On the issue of illegal immigration, it wants a revision of Dublin II and the repatriation of undocumented immigrants.

Campaign slogan: The responsible left
2009 election result: N/A
April 20 opinion poll rating: 9.5 percent

Independent Greeks

Founded: 2012
Leader: Panos Kammenos

Brief history: Independent Greeks is a right-wing nationalist party that was formed by ousted New Democracy MP Panos Kammenos in February. Kammenos, known for his bombastic style, believes that Greece was the victim of an international conspiracy and that the EU-IMF bailouts have allowed its lenders to exploit the country. Kammenos, whose party platform was first unveiled on Facebook, has labeled the politicians who negotiated the bailouts -- especially former Prime Minister George Papandreou -- as “traitors.” He has attracted to his party 10 fellow deputies who were also expelled from ND and has enjoyed a rapid rise in the opinion polls, aided by his effective use of social media. Kammenos has suggested he would be willing to work with leftist SYRIZA -- despite being on different ends of the ideological spectrum -- since both parties oppose the EU-IMF memorandum. Kammenos has already struck cooperation with the tiny leftist party People’s Chariot (Arma Politon).

Main manifesto points: Kammenos has called for the nationalization of the Bank of Greece and the creation of a Greek investment bank that would protect the country’s property from being seized by its lenders. He has said he wants to drive the IMF out of Greece. Kammenos insists the country can cover any funding gap by getting advance payments for the oil and gas reserves which are currently the subject of exploration missions. He has been highly critical of Berlin, seeking payment of German war reparations. Kammenos has vowed to investigate whether Greek officials colluded with speculators to profit from a Greek default. He has had little to say on the migration issue, save sporadic calls for a European response to the problem.

Campaign slogan: We are many, we are independent, we are Greeks
2009 election result: N/A
April 20 opinion poll rating: 11 percent

Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn)

Founded: 1993
Leader: Nikos Michaloliakos

Brief history: Party leader Nikos Michaloliakos had been active in far-right politics for a number of years before Chrysi Avgi was officially recognized as a party in 1993. He met with leaders of the 1967-74 military junta while serving a jail sentence for illegal possession of explosives and has said he was “proud” to serve in the same jail wing as the imprisoned colonels. The party expresses open admiration for the 1936-41 dictatorship led by Ioannis Metaxas and associates itself closely with Nazi ideology and imagery, although Michaloliakos insists he is only a nationalist who is fighting the “new world order” and corruption in Greek politics. Chrysi Avgi has advocated vigilantism in the past and party members have been tried for attacks on leftists and immigrants. The party gained its first major electoral breakthrough in the local elections of 2010 when Michaloliakos won a seat on the Athens municipal council. The party has campaigned heavily in parts of central Athens where some residents feel threatened by rising crime and the concentration of undocumented immigrants.

Main campaign points: Chrysi Avgi is opposed to the EU-IMF loan deal but does not favor an exit from the eurozone at this point. Its main focus has been on calling for the expulsion of all illegal immigrants from Greece. It wants land mines placed on the Greek-Turkish border to stop illegal immigrants entering the country. Michaloliakos told NET TV that he believes second-generation immigrants born in Greece should be allowed to live in Greece but not have the right to vote or stand for office. Michaloliakos says that once his party is in Parliament it will create private security firms to patrol working-class Athens neighborhoods and medical centers to provide treatment to the poor. Chrysi Avgi calls for the cancellation of Greece's bailouts and erasing of any debt accumulated since 1974 that is deemed “illegal and odious.”

Campaign slogan: So we can rid the land of filth
2009 election result: 0.29 percent
April 20 opinion poll rating: 5.5 percent

Democratic Alliance

Founded: 2010
Leader: Dora Bakoyannis

Brief history: Former Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis was expelled from New Democracy for voting in favor of the first EU-IMF bailout despite instructions from the man that beat her to the party leadership, Antonis Samaras, to the contrary. Bakoyannis set up Democratic Alliance as a liberal centrist party that aimed to be a halfway house between PASOK and ND. Despite attracting some conservative MPs to her party, Bakoyannis has enjoyed extremely limited success with her venture. Democratic Alliance supports an agenda of structural and political reform but voters appear unconvinced that Bakoyannis, an established political figure whose father -- Constantine Mitsotakis -- served as prime minister, can represent the change she espouses.

Main manifesto points: Democratic Alliance has backed Greece's loan agreements, deeming support as critical for keeping the country in the EU and the eurozone. The party wants a smaller government, with fewer civil servants, and has called for a single 20 percent tax rate for all Greek citizens. It would like to see more privatizations, further deregulations of closed professions, and a new legal framework regarding strikes and the operation of unions. The party says no more migrants should be admitted to the country until 2020, while calling for the immediate processing of all outstanding asylum applications. Bakoyannis supports the reduction of the number of MPs from 300 to 200.

Campaign slogan: It’s not your fault, it’s the state’s, so change it
2009 election result: N/A
April 20 opinion poll rating: 2 percent

Drasi

Founded: 2009
Leader: Stefanos Manos

Brief history: Founded in 2009 by former Economy Minister Stefanos Manos, the liberal Drasi attracted less than 40,000 votes at the European Parliament elections that year and did not take part in the subsequent legislative elections. Manos started his political career as a New Democracy MP in the 1970s, but after serving in government in the early 1980s and 1990s he attempted to form his own movement. Its lack of success led to Manos later standing for election on the PASOK ticket. Manos, who is the party's only professional politician, was one of the first advocates of a privatization program and has repeatedly called for widespread public sector reform but has found it difficult to make his message resonate with voters. Drasi recently joined forces with the smaller Liberal Alliance, led by gay and human rights activist Grigoris Valianatos.

Main manifesto points: Drasi backs many of the policies in the EU-IMF memorandum, including tighter fiscal discipline, privatizations and state sector layoffs. Manos has proposed the abolition of employer and employee social security fund (IKA) contributions. He supports granting every citizen a pension of 700 euros at the age of 67. Drasi proposes the legalization of drugs and gay marriage, and wants citizenship granted to all foreigners born in the country. It says the school curriculum must be redesigned in a way that does not cultivate a religious and national conscience.

Campaign slogan: We are citizens, not customers
2009 election result: N/A
April 20 opinion poll rating: 1.5 percent

Social Pact

Founded: 2012
Leaders: Louka Katseli & Haris Kastanidis

Brief history: Social Pact was formed in March by two former ministers who were ousted from PASOK for opposing the new bailout. Ex-Economy Minister Louka Katseli and former Justice Minister Haris Kastanidis formed that party to give a voice to disgruntled PASOK supporters but their late start compared to Democratic Left is one of the reasons that Social Pact will struggle to make an impact at the ballot box.

Main campaign points: Social Pact says Greece’s membership of the euro is “not negotiable.” However, it opposes the austerity attached to the country’s bailout programs and has called for measures that support growth and social justice. Kastanidis, a close associate of ex-Prime Minister George Papandreou, insists that the former premier had been right to call a referendum on Greece’s eurozone membership. Kastanidis was one of those who advised Papandreou to propose the idea, which triggered the latter’s downfall.

Campaign slogan: For Greece, in Europe
2009 election result: N/A
April 20 opinion poll rating: N/A

Source: Kathimerini English Edition

 Recreate Greece (Dimiourgia Xana)


Founded: 2012
Leaders: Thanos Tzimeros

Running on a reformist platform, the people running with this party describe themselves  as 'productive people who have never been sustained by state largesse, and who envision a meritocratic and progressive state. We are successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, professionals, scientists, intellectuals and conscientious public servants who cannot continue to support the parasites within their midst. We are not household names. However, each one of us has built islets of creativity and quality, in his family, his business and in his immediate environment. We know that there are many people in Greece who think and live their lives as we do. And we know that they are many more than it appears. They do not break store windows, they do not scream on television debates, they do not block roads, and they do not occupy buildings. They only feel pain and sorrow. They are the people we represent, the people on whom we rely, and the people we want with us.'

They pledge to do away with cronyism and corruption in the public sector and create a meritocratic state staffed by people qualified and willing to offer their services to the citizens.

Campaign slogan: No to the professionals of politics

2009 election result: N/A
April 20 opinion poll rating: N/A

'Ερχονται Εκλογές: Το Α και το Ω των Μπαλκονιών

The ABC of Greek Elections

 

From Konstantine Karamanlis to Kosta Karamanlis
Source: Eleftherotypia Daily newspaper

George A Papandreou
Source: Wikipedia

Once the PSI (Public Sector Involvement) also known as haircut, and the details of the 2nd Memorandum and Bailout agreements have been finalised, Greece will be going to National Elections, something it really doesn't need right now, but is essential to ensure that Democracy reigns in the land where it was born...
 
Thought we would share with all our readers this gem of an ABC of phrases compiled by Christos Zervas for the Greek daily newspaper Eleftherotypia in 2009, just before the last elections.

This ABC consists of phrases that have been used by Greece's political leaders over the years - from Konstantine Karamanlis I to George Papandreou II - during their election campaigns or terms. Phrases that have become a part of the national political thesaurus as positive or negative, they became synonymous with the creator's time in power.

Apologies to those who cannot read Greek but we've left them in their original form as any attempt to put them into English will totally change them -  a case of being lost in translation.

Α ιθεροβάμων: μπήκε στο πολιτικό λεξικό από τον Α. Παπανδρέου. Αφορούσε εσωκομματικούς αντιφρονούντες και σημαίνει αυτόν που περπατά στα σύννεφα...

ακουμπάμε τους τρομοκράτες: η φράση του τότε υπουργού Α. Δροσογιάννη (1985) έμεινε στην ιστορία όχι γιατί ήταν αλήθεια, αλλά ως ανεπιτυχής άσκηση τόνωσης ηθικού. Κάτι άλλο ακουμπούσαν προφανώς...

αλλαγή: κεντρικό πολιτικό σύνθημα που σηματοδότησε τον βαθύτερο κοινωνικό μετασχηματισμό της μεταπολίτευσης. Ταυτίστηκε με την άνοδο του ΠΑΣΟΚ στην εξουσία.

αναδόμηση: την καθιέρωσε ο Α. Παπανδρέου ως πιο εύηχη και πολιτικώς ορθή εκδοχή του ανασχηματισμού.

ανήκομεν εις την Δύσιν: φράση εθνικού ετεροπροσδιορισμού από τον αείμνηστο Κ. Καραμανλή. Ο Α. Παπανδρέου απάντησε με τη φράση-σύνθημα «Η Ελλάδα ανήκει στους Ελληνες».

αντάρτης: δημοσιογραφικός όρος για τους διαφωνούντες βουλευτές κυβερνώσας (συνήθως) παράταξης.

ανφέρ: πράξη πολιτικώς ανήθικη. Τη χρησιμοποίησε ο Κ. Μητσοτάκης για να περιγράψει τη συμπεριφορά των ελληνικών κυβερνήσεων της μεταπολίτευσης απέναντι στον Κ. Γλίξμπουργκ!

απέραντο φρενοκομείο: η εικόνα της Ελλάδας κατά τον αείμνηστο Κ. Καραμανλή, στα τέλη της δεκαετίας του '80

αρχάγγελος της κάθαρσης (κατ' άλλους της αποστασίας): αφορά το ίδιο πρόσωπο (Κ. Μητσοτάκης), ανάλογα την οπτική γωνία του καθενός.

αρχιερέας της διαπλοκής: φράση που ο σημερινός πρωθυπουργός απέδωσε, ως φιλοφρόνηση, στον προκάτοχό του Κ. Σημίτη

αυθαίρετο, αν το δηλώσεις μπορείς να το σώσεις: πολιτική νομιμοποίησης των αυθαιρέτων επί Τρίτση (1983) τα οποία, χωρίς να δηλώνονται, ξεφυτρώνουν σαν μανιτάρια.

Β αρόνος: τίτλος κομματικής ευγένειας για παλαίμαχα και συνήθως ισχυρά, ακόμα, πολιτικά τζάκια.

βυθίσατε το «Χόρα»: φράση του Α. Παπανδρέου για το τουρκικό πλοίο θαλασσίων ερευνών. Ταυτόσημο εν πολλοίς με την εξωτερική πολιτική της χώρας.

Δ εν δικαιούσθε διά να ομιλείτε: άποψη που διατύπωσε το 1985 ο Μένιος Κουτσόγιωργας, για να δικαιολογήσει την προεκλογική πολιτική της σύγκρουσης των «δύο κόσμων» (δηλαδή του φωτός, που εκπροσωπούσε το ΠΑΣΟΚ, και του σκότους, όπου ανήκε η Ν.Δ).

δεν θέλω ου: φράση πολιτικής ευπρέπειας του Γ. Ράλλη το 1981. Οι συγκεντρωμένοι πάντως εξακολουθούν να αποδοκιμάζουν τους πολιτικούς αντιπάλους.

δημιουργική λογιστική: χρησιμοποιήθηκε για να συκοφαντήσει τα οικονομικά αποτελέσματα των κυβερνήσεων Σημίτη, ως προϊόντα λογιστικών μαγειρεμάτων. Είχε προηγηθεί ωστόσο η δημιουργική αριθμητική του Κ. Μητσοτάκη για τις αυξήσεις στους μισθούς: 1+1=14%.

διαπλοκή: να έχεις τηλεόραση, εφημερίδες και εταιρείες με δουλειές του Δημοσίου και κανείς να μην τολμά να σε αγγίξει (βλ. και τον όρο «νταβατζήδες»).

δωράκι: συνώνυμο της μίζας. Προέρχεται από τη φράση «είπαμε να κάνει ένα δωράκι στον εαυατό του, αλλά όχι και 500 εκατ. δρχ.», που φέρεται (ατεκμηρίωτα λένε πολλοί) να είπε ο Α. Παπανδρέου για στέλεχος ΔΕΚΟ.

Ε δώ και τώρα: έκφραση του Α. Παπανδρέου, δηλωτική (κατά τον ίδιο) της ανυπομονησίας των μαζών για δράση και αλλαγή.

έθεσεν εαυτόν εκτός κόμματος: ο κομψός τρόπος του Α. Παπανδρέου να αναγγέλλει τις διαγραφές, καθιερώθηκε έκτοτε ως πολιτικά ορθός απ' όλο το πολιτικό σύστημα.

είμαστε έθνος ανάδελφον: η αγωνία της εθνικής μοναξιάς από τον Χρ. Σαρτζετάκη.

είστε το κράτος: διαβεβαίωση του Κ. Μητσοτάκη προς τους αστυνομικούς, οι οποίοι προφανώς την πήραν σοβαρά.

εισαγγελέας: εμφανίζεται συνήθως στη φράση «να πάτε ό,τι στοιχεία έχετε για σκάνδαλα στον εισαγγελέα». Την επέβαλε η κυβέρνηση Σημίτη και την υιοθέτησε πλήρως η Ν.Δ. Για τους αδαείς, συνοδεύεται από γενικόλογες εκφράσεις του τύπου «όλα στο φως», «το μαχαίρι στο κόκαλο».

εκσυγχρονισμός: η πολιτική προμετωπίδα των κυβερνήσεων Σημίτη. Ταυτίστηκε με δεξιά, σοσιαλδημοκρατική στροφή. Σήμερα σπάνια χρησιμοποιείται.

εμπιστοσύνη: λεκτική αυτοεπιβεβαίωση της πολιτικής αξιοπιστίας των κομμάτων (π.χ. ΠΑΣΟΚ, δύναμη εμπιστοσύνης). Απαντά επίσης κατά κόρον στη φράση «έχω εμπιστοσύνη στη Δικαιοσύνη», την οποία επαναλαμβάνουν ως Ευαγγέλιο όσα πολιτικά στελέχη βρεθούν κατηγορούμενα (αφού όλα υποστηρίζουν ότι είναι θύματα πολιτικής σκευωρίας βεβαίως...).

έξω πάμε καλά: φράση δηλωτική της φανερής δυσαρμονίας μεταξύ κακής εσωτερικής κατάστασης και καλής εξωτερικής εικόνας της χώρας (Κ. Καραμανλής ο πρεσβύτερος). Χρησιμοποιείται ωστόσο και ευρύτερα.

ετεροχρονισμένος: ουδέτερος όρος που παραπέμπει σε άγρια λιτότητα, όταν σχετίζεται με την (μη) καταβολή της Αυτόματης Τιμαριθμικής Αναπροσαρμογής (κυβερνητική πολιτική ΠΑΣΟΚ, 1985). Σύγχρονη κυνική εκδοχή του, το «πάγωμα μισθών» της κυβέρνησης Καραμανλή.

Ζ αρντινιέρα: συνώνυμο του μεμονωμένου περιστατικού αστυνομικής βίας. Χαρακτηριστικό «δείγμα» της πάγιας αστυνομικής πρακτικής. Συνοδεύεται πολύ συχνά από εποστρακισμούς σφαιρών, θανάτους ανύποπτων πολιτών και ατιμωρησία των δραστών-αστυνομικών.

ζιβάγκο: ενδυματολογική πρόταση πολιτικού ριζοσπαστισμού της δεκαετίας του '70. Την εισήγαγε ο Α. Παπανδρέου αλλά κράτησε λίγο.

Η θικό και νόμιμο: ο Γ. Βουλγαράκης ταύτισε τις δύο έννοιες, δίνοντας νέο νόημα στις αξίες της πολιτικής.

Θ α μας πάρουν με τις πέτρες: πρόβλεψη του Γιώργου Παπανδρέου μετά τις αποκαλύψεις του σκανδάλου Ζίμενς, που επιβεβαιώθηκε εν μέρει τον περασμένο Δεκέμβριο με την εξέγερση των νέων.

θεσμός είναι μόνο ο κυρίαρχος λαός: η πρωτότυπη απάντηση του Α. Παπανδρέου στους διώκτες του, το 1989.

θυρωρός: σύμβολο κοινωνικής αναγνώρισης και καταξίωσης τη δεκαετία του '80. Εμεινε στην ιστορία από την παροιμιώδη φράση του Γ. Κατσιφάρα: «Αν δεν ήταν ο Α. Παπανδρέου, δεν θα μας ήξερε ούτε ο θυρωρός της πολυκατοικίας μας».

Κ άθαρση: προσδιόρισε τη περίοδο του σκανδάλου Κοσκωτά και των ειδικών δικαστηρίων που ακολούθησαν. Κατ' άλλους, ταυτίζεται απολύτως με το «βρώμικο '89».

κάθετα: ΠΑΣΟΚ νεολογισμός για την απόλυτη διαφωνία.

καμένη γη: τα άδεια ταμεία που άφησε πίσω της η Ν.Δ. το 1981 για να πλήξει την «αλλαγή».

Καραμανλής ή τανκς: η φράση-δίλημμα του Μ. Θεοδωράκη το 1974 θεωρήθηκε από πολλούς τότε εκβιαστική. Τελευταία ο Ευ. Στυλιανίδης επανέλαβε ως φάρσα μάλλον το εκσυγχρονισμένο δίλημμα Καραμανλής ή χάος, για να εισπράξει από την Αννα Διαμαντοπούλου την απάντηση Καραμανλής ίσον χάος. Η εξίσωση του χάους...

κασέτα: Εξωθεσμική απειλή για κάθε επίορκο δημόσιο λειτουργό. Γνωστές έχουν μείνει οι «κασέτες της ΚΥΠ» και του Μ. Τριανταφυλλόπουλου, ενώ τελευταία κάνουν θραύση και τα ροζ dvd.

κοινωνικός αυτοματισμός: εισήχθη από το ΠΑΣΟΚ (Δ. Ρέππας) για να επεξηγήσει και να παρακινήσει φαινόμενα εμφύλιας αντίδρασης κοινωνικών ομάδων απέναντι σε άλλες. Εκτοτε τον επικαλούνται, ως λύση ή απειλή, όλες οι στριμωγμένες εξουσίες.

κοριός: βασικό εργαλείο άσκησης πολιτικής. Από την εποχή του Τόμπρα και των ΚΑΦΑΟ, ώς τον άρχικοριό Χ. Μαυρίκη, τον στρατηγό Γρυλλάκη και τη Vodafone, οι υποκλοπές στην Ελλάδα ζουν και βασιλεύουν.

κουμπάροι: πραγματικοί κουμπάροι που παίζουν τους κομματικούς και κρατικούς «μεγαλοπαράγοντες» για ίδιον όφελος (;). Εγιναν γνωστοί πρόσφατα στην υπόθεση ΜΕΒΓΑΛ-Επιτροπής Ανταγωνισμού.

κ...σπιτο: η ροζ βίλα του Ανδρέα Παπανδρέου και της Δ. Λιάνη στην Εκάλη, διά στόματος Ε. Γιαννόπουλου: «Ε, δεν θα μας ρίξουν για ένα κωλόσπιτο».

Λ οχαγός: άτυπο κομματικό αξίωμα που προσδιορίζει μεσαία σε θέση και ηλικία στελέχη. Απαντά και στα δύο μεγάλα κόμματα. Το κίνημα των «λοχαγών» στήριξε τον Κ. Σημίτη αλλά και τον σημερινό πρωθυπουργό στην αρχηγία.

Λευτά Υπάρχουν... η πασίγνωστη πλέον φράση του ΓΑΠ που απεδείχθει  κάτι σαν το Κάρβουνα ο Θησαυρός - αυτή την προσθέσαμε εμείς...

Μ αζί: λέξη κλειδί της μεταπολίτευσης για τον προσδιορισμό αλλά και την υφαρπαγή της λαϊκής συναίνεσης (π.χ. «μαζί θα προχωρήσουμε»). Συνηθίζεται ώς τις μέρες μας.

μεσάζοντες: από βδέλλες των αγροτών του κάμπου μεταπήδησαν σε πιο κυριλέ δουλειές (π.χ. εξοπλιστικά, προμήθειες του Δημοσίου κ.ά).

mea culpa: μεγαλόψυχη επίδειξη αυτοκριτικής από τον Α. Παπανδρέου μετά το Νταβός. Σημαίνει «λάθος μου» στα λατινικά. Πρόσφατα ο Κ. Καραμανλής, κάνοντας σκληρή αυτοκριτική, έφτασε στο σημείο να παραδεχθεί ότι υποτίμησε το Βατοπέδι!

μηδενική ανοχή (εννοείται κατά της διαφθοράς): θα μπορούσε να είναι το πιο σύντομο ανέκδοτο της κυβέρνησης Καραμανλή.

μη προνομιούχοι: η ευρεία κοινωνική συμμαχία που ανέδειξε το 1981 σε πλειοψηφικό ρεύμα το ΠΑΣΟΚ.

μπάνια του λαού: ο Α. Παπανδρέου τα χαρακτήρισε ιερά, για να αποφύγει εκλογές καλοκαιριάτικα. Εκτοτε η ρήση απέκτησε διαχρονική αξία και καθολικό σεβασμό.

Ν έο: επιθετικός προσδιορισμός του απόλυτου κενού. Χρησιμοποιείται κυρίως όταν δεν έχει κανείς τίποτα ουσιαστικό να πει: π.χ. Νέα Ελλάδα, νέα αρχή, νέα διακυβέρνηση, νέο ξεκίνημα.

νταβατζήδες: ήρθε στην επιφάνεια από τη φράση «δεν θα ανεχθούμε να κυβερνούν αυτό τον τόπο 5 νταβατζήδες και 6 συντεχνίες», την οποία φέρεται να είπε το 2004 ο Κ. Καραμανλής σε βουλευτές του, τρώγοντας σουβλάκια στου Μπαϊρακτάρη. Θα μπορούσε να είναι η απάντηση στο all time classic ερώτημα του θείου του: «Μα επιτέλους, ποιος κυβερνά αυτό τον τόπο;». Στιγματίζει τα γνωστά φαινόμενα διαπλοκής, αν και 5 χρόνια μετά δεν έχει διευκρινιστεί ακόμη πόσοι και ποιοι είναι τελικά οι νταβατζήδες...

ντολμαδάκια της Μαρίκας: γαστρονομικό συνώνυμο της συγκυβέρνησης Τζαννετάκη (Ν.Δ. - ΣΥΝ).

Ξ επούλημα: Η εκποίηση δημόσιας περιουσίας από το αντίπαλο κόμμα.

Ο ικοσκευή: έχει δύο ερμηνείες. Προσδιορίζει την κινητή περιουσία του Γλίξμπουργκ που βγήκε κρυφά από το Τατόι επί Μητσοτάκη, αλλά και τις οικοσκευές-δώρα της Ζίμενς σε πολιτικά πρόσωπα.

Π αραπλανηθείς υπουργός (ενίοτε και πρωθυπουργός): νέα μορφή ιδιότυπης πολιτικής και ποινικής ανευθυνότητας των πολιτικών προσώπων. Ο όρος ανήκει στον εισαγγελέα του Αρείου Πάγου Γ. Σανιδά.

πολιτική ευθύνη: άγνωστης ετυμολογίας και περιεχομένου φράση για το ελληνικό πολιτικό σύστημα, όπου υπουργοί και πρωθυπουργός θεωρούνται περίπου αδαείς και παντελώς ανεύθυνοι άνθρωποι.

πράσινη ανάπτυξη: οικονομική πολιτικλή νέου, οικολογικού τύπου. Λανσάρεται τα τελευταία χρόνια από τον Γ. Παπανδρέου.

πρωθυπουργός: απαντά κυρίως στο σύνθημα «είσαι και θα είσαι ο πρωθυπουργός» και στη φράση «έναν πρωθυπουργό τον στέλνεις σπίτι του, όχι στο ειδικό δικαστήριο», η οποία αποδίδεται στον Κων. Καραμανλή (θείο), την περίοδο των παραπομπών του Α. Παπανδρέου.

Ρ ετιρέ: συμβολική περιγραφή προνομιούχων στρωμάτων του Δημοσίου (Α. Παπανδρέου).

Σ κληρό ροκ: μεγάλη σε ένταση πολιτική αντιπαράθεση. Χρησιμοποιήθηκε από τον Κ. Λαλιώτη.

σε δέκα χρόνια θα το έχουμε ξεχάσει: φράση του Κ. Μητσοτάκη το 1991 για το όνομα Μακεδονία. Δηλωτικό της γενικότερης αμηχανίας του πολιτικού συστήματος να λύσει εδώ και 20 χρόνια το ζήτημα.

σεμνά και ταπεινά: κλασικό μότο των δύο τελευταίων κυβερνήσεων Καραμανλή σε θέματα ηθικής τάξεως και συμπεριφοράς. Πώς λέμε «καμία σχέση»!

σκάνδαλο-σκανδαλολογία: αφορά υποθέσεις κλοπής δημόσιας περιουσίας και παραβατικής συμπεριφοράς από πολιτικά πρόσωπα. Η σημασία της εξαρτάται ωστόσο από την οπτική και την πολιτική ένταξη του καθενός. Τελευταία ο Κώστας Καραμανλής, μετά το Βατοπέδι, εισήγαγε την ηπιότερη παραλλαγή «σκανδαλώδη πράγματα».

Τ α δικά μας παιδιά: οι ημέτεροι που προσλαμβάνονται σε Δημόσιο και ΔΕΚΟ. Μετά το ΑΣΕΠ ονομάζονται και «συμβασιούχοι».

τεμαχισμός-τιμάριο: αφορά το ΠΑΣΟΚ, που κατά τον ιδρυτή του «δεν τεμαχίζεται, δεν τιμαριοποιείται».

τρένο: ταυτίστηκε σημειολογικά με το ΠΑΣΟΚ. Εξού και η φράση «όποιος διαφωνεί, να κατέβει από το τρένο». Στη Ν.Δ χρησιμοποιούν συνήθως το βουκολικότερο παράδειγμα του μαντριού («Οποιος μείνει έξω από το μαντρί τον τρώει ο λύκος»).

Τσοβόλα δώσ' τα όλα: φράση του Α. Παπανδρέου σε προεκλογική συγκέντρωση του 1989 στο Περιστέρι. Αποτέλεσε το σήμα κατατεθέν της ακατάσχετης προεκλογικής παροχολογίας, αν και στην πράξη δεν δόθηκαν πολλά...

Υ πευθυνότητα-σοβαρότητα: την επικαλούνται οι πολιτικοί, μόνο όταν βρεθούν σε δύσκολη θέση.

Φ ούσκα: συνώνυμο της απάτης του Χρηματιστηρίου, για την οποία ουδείς πλήρωσε. Ταυτίσθηκε επίσης με τις λέξεις λαμόγια, αεριτζήδες, παπαγαλάκια.

φως στο τούνελ (ή και έξοδος από το τούνελ): αγαπημένη φράση όλων των υπουργών Οικονομίας, σε περιόδους επιβολής άγριας λιτότητας.

Χ ρονοδιάγραμμα: εγκαθιδρύθηκε στο πολιτικό λεξιλόγιο ως χρονικό πλαίσιο απομάκρυνσης των αμερικανικών βάσεων, που τελικώς παρέμειναν. Εκτοτε χρησιμοποιείται για κάτι που σίγουρα δεν πρόκειται να συμβεί...

χρονοντούλαπο (της ιστορίας): ευρηματική έκφραση του Α. Παπανδρέου για τον σκουπιδοντενεκέ...

Source: Eleftherotypia

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The Global Greek Spirit - Determined and Optimistic in Adversity

At a time when devastating fires have destroyed half of Attica's beautiful green and leafy forests, including the ones that were so painstakingly afforested earlier in 2009; at a time when Greece's political system, leaders and politicians have fallen way short of people's expectations because of their lack of vision and unwillingness to fight the monster of corruption which has set Greece so far back in many ways, we decided that we will put the pettiness and the 'miseria' behind us and think positive!

This video is a tribute to the triumph of the Global Greek Spirit, Athanato Elliniko Pnevma - immortal, generous and optimistic.

This is the spirit which fights on, refusing to yield to adversity and always brings out the best in the Hellenic people wherever they may be - a people which survived many hardships and wars, incredibly difficult moments in it's history but has lasted for thousands of years!



The concert was given by the Youth Choir of St Panteleimon's Church in Kalamaria, Thessaloniki during the 25th March Celebrations, and is conducted by Father Theodore Tzambatzidis. We don't know the name of the young girl singing so beautifully undaunted by the fact that she is reading her music in Braille, but we thank them all from the bottom of our hearts for such an optimistic and positive reinforcement of our wonderful Global Greek Spirit!

Zito to Athanato Elliniko Pnevma!