Panos Beglitis, former Minister of Defence in George Papandreou’s government and now PASOK spokesman, stated during a television interview at the state television in November 2011, that the participation of the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) in the Papademos government was a political mistake.
When asked by journalist Kostas Arvanitis what he thought the repercussions of this “mistake” would be on Greek society Mr. Beglitis stated (I am quoting as much as possible- the greek speakers can check my translation): “This case reminds me of the famous British movie “My dear laundry”. LAOS’ participation in the government acts as a laundry, it cleans up or makes forget its fascist and extreme right foundation.” And later on he added what every democratic citizen has been thinking all along: “The participation of LAOS strengthens the view that all politicians are the same”.
This is the point the left has been making since this government was formed. Beyond its present inefficiency, its inability to deal with the huge problems, this government undermines the democratic achievements of the post junta period by legitimising a party with fascist, xenophobic and extreme right views.
January 8, 2012
fromagreekangle
3 responses to “P.Beglitis: LAOS’government participation a political mistake”
FACTDROP
January 8th, 2012 at 22:14
Ok.. but the present interim government was possible to substantiate only by the concession of the two big parties aka the Pasok and New Democracy. Recent polls showed that those two are not qualified to govern due to their bottomed percentages. Laos is functioning as an intermediate between them eager to vote for every “needed measure” to ensure in theory that Greece will not default and in reality to show that it can be fitly an accountable ruling party. Practically, today Greece has a much bigger debt (160% of the GDP) than 2009 (120%), it will need some years (?) to reach the same level and the possibility to default are at least the same if not more. So the big picture is that a largely disqualified and unelected government is implementing and signing contracts that will have a great impact on Greece’s future. So the “laundry” theory applies well to the other direction: The whole interim government acts like a laundry as the two main parties enriched by the presence of Lao’s “new” faces are doing the dirty job without asking the support of the Greek voter who by the way lives in absolutely insecurity deep in to complete darkness about how much money he must pay back, when, about his future or any possible alternatives. Finally there is always a question in the air: If Greece is going to default why this didn’t happen back in 2009? Was it for Greek people’s benefit or for the eurozone’s?
fromagreekangle
January 10th, 2012 at 09:24
I agree with you. This government is totally “manufactured” and it is acting as a “laundry” in more ways than one. I chose to stress the point about LAOS because I think it is not as recognizable as the rest. I consider LAOS a danger to democracy and its legitimisation in the eyes of the Greek public as a crime that will follow us much longer than the economic crisis
FACTDROP
January 10th, 2012 at 17:31
I think though that the real danger is not Laos… It is despair, anger, fear, and injustice.
Nobody from the political clans that brought Greece to the brink of bankruptcy has been held accountable or punished. Furthermore, now it is more than obvious that all this austerity measures are just a wild ride towards a dead end.
For who seriously supports the idea that if the minimum wages drop – being already below poverty line – the competitiveness of the Greek products will rise? The recent increase of the VAT to 23% was a major blow to the same direction on Greece’s exports. So the same brains are functioning in a contradictory manner to “resolve” the crisis deepening the country into a vicious circle. From the other hand the employees of the middle and lower companies are the 2/3 of the aggregate. And if they don’t consume who is going to buy? Unless we believe that suddenly Greece will become an exporter this is pure nonsense.
My personal view is that Laos will loose voters by participating in this interim government, buying more time for the eurozone.
Insecurity for the future, insecurity on the streets and a decapitated democracy are the real triggers of threats to stability and national safety. Everybody feel that there is a real skeleton in the closet. The only question is when it will be opened…