Press Watch - The Best from Greece

Prime Minister Lucas Papademos’ trip to Brussels for talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Hermann Van Rompuy is the story of the day.

 

The troika, with prodding from Germany, is itching to get New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras’ signature on a document declaring that he will support implementation of the policies – many not definitively decided yet – arising out of the October 27 bailout deal.

 

Obviously, the aim is to bind Samaras if he becomes prime minister. But the letter of an opposition leader cannot legally bind him at a later date as premier, especially if he runs on a platform demanding renegotiation of the terms of the memorandum.

 

Governments are represented by their prime minister or head of state, whose signature, combined with the ratification of the legislature, guarantees compliance. That is the nature of democracy and international relations. Any demand that requests others to offer guarantees or assurances is arbitrary and illegitimate. But the new, German-dominated EU is unabashedly violating democratic procedures as obsolete or inefficient in countless instances.

 

Many political commentators believe that Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to make all Greek party leaders indentured servants, who must not dare to consider any policy or demand beyond slavish implementation of the memorandum.

 

Now, the German press is openly supporting the bypassing of sovereignty. The equality between EU states is considered a nuisance. Der Spiegel purports to say “How the EU can emerge from the ashes”. “Greater [intra-EU] democracy and less nation-state sovereignty” is the answer it puts forth, in a transparent attempt to wrap German hegemony in a cloak of legitimacy.

 

“After all, it isn’t the European Council, the European Commission or the European Parliament that the world is relying on to pull Europe out of crisis. It is Angela Merkel. The German chancellor and French President Nicolas Sarkozy more or less single-handedly implemented the bailout plan for Greece, brought down the government in Athens and placed ailing member state Italy under international supervision,” writes the “Spiegel Staff”, explaining to the world who toppled the Greek government.

 

Doesn’t it make you wonder, “Who is next?”

 

“Triple provocation from Germany” declared City Press’s headline, referring firstly to the German finance minister’s latest order that Samaras sign the total capitulation declaration. The second provocation was that Berlin announced Ireland’s hike in the VAT rates before the Irish legislature got to hear about it. Thirdly, those EU countries with excessive debt will face punishment that levels the economy, just like Greece.

 

“Short circuit in [real estate] tax” reported Eleftherotypia’s headline, meaning that the state is trying to avoid cutting off the electricity of households that don’t pay. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos had decided the tax will be added to the electricity bill, and that service would be cut off if you don’t pay. “On Friday, salaries at DEKOs [public utilities] to be reduced by 25 percent” reported another story.

 

“Test of Papademos in the shadow of a signature” Ta Nea’s banner headline said of the EU demand for Samaras’ signature. The paper spoke of today’s “marathon of contacts in Brussels” to secure the sixth tranche of loan aid.

 

“First wave of labour reserve in seven days” read Ethnos’ headline, referring to the first batch of a total of 30,000 civil servants who will eventually be laid off. Everyone knows, of course, that 30,000 is just the beginning.

 

“They are in position for the leadership change [in Pasok]” read another title. Weekend reports had George Papandreou ready to open the way for his replacement before the next elections, but most observers won’t believe it until they see it.

 

“Turkish landing with [sale of] electricity to Greek islands” trumpeted Eleftheros Typos’ headline. The report said that Yiorgos Papakonstantinou, the energy minister, told the Turkish daily Hurriyet that he has discussed the idea with Ankara. The daily opined that the minister’s idea is not in Greece’s national interest, as it would make the islands dependent on an expansionist neighbour that challenges Greek sovereignty over dozens of Aegean islets.