Motion of No Confidence – George Papandreou: Democracy is under threat again

“Democracy is threatened again. But there is a difference today in relation to the dictatorship. Then the abolition of democratic institutions was so clear, but also so easy to diagnose. The struggle for her recovery is understandable. Today, the methods of undermining it are insidious, less obvious, and the struggle to defend it is more difficult and the road more difficult. And the best student of these new methods proves to be today’s ND”. This was pointed out by the former prime minister and MP of PASOK-KINAL, George Papandreouin his intervention in the Parliament, during its debate motion of no confidence against the government, submitted by SYRIZA.

The former prime minister strongly criticized the actions of the ND government, accusing it of constantly undermining and instrumentalizing the institutions. However, he also criticized SYRIZA, calling on him to make a brave self-criticism about his own actions when he assumed power and acted “revolutionarily right” in defiance of the institutions.

“We agree with the Motion of No Confidence filed by SYRIZA. But we also expect a brave self-criticism from you. Because when you assumed power, you considered that “the revolution has come” and you operated “revolutionarily right”. Defying institutions and control functions of power – and therefore your own power. Perception, which historically follows the traditional Left. A perception, according to which the end justifies the means”, said Mr. Papandreou characteristically.

Directing his fire at the wing of the governing majority, Mr. Papandreou said that “the Right, known for its performance in the “file” of its opponents in the past, today surprises us with its acumen in new technologies.” “However, what unfortunately does not surprise us – and it is a shame, a great shame, dear ND colleagues -, is its long-term course of instrumentalizing institutions, such as the EYP, of undermining institutions that do not suit it, such as Diaygeia, the Independents Authorities, Local Government, independent media, meritocracy”, he added.

“Your so-called staff state has, after all, become a system of government that undermines every democratic institution. Which undermines everything that controls the executive branch and prevents your intention for sovereignty, clientelistic management of the state, for hyper-concentration, appropriation and county of power,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr. Papandreou stated that he disagrees “with claims of government officials that people are only interested in their pockets and are not interested in the issue of wiretapping”. “I consider it not only wrong, but also unacceptable to cynically tell the Greek people, don’t deal with democracy, only with your pocket”, he pointed out and added: “I also disagree with your logic, that democracy has nothing to do with the economy. The quality of our democracy has a direct relationship with the quality of life of the Greek, with the quality of the economic, social, ecological and cultural life of the Greek. Because for us, democracy cannot be the arbitrary distribution, as they say, but the securing of citizens’ rights”.

Mr. Papandreou personally attacked the prime minister, accusing him that “without a serious national plan, without democratic consultation on the future of the country, without the participation of the region, the citizenry, the productive classes, he wanders around the country announcing projects, scattered, unconnected, clientelistic”. “It is a logic that comes from a long time ago and it is the one that was described with the phrase ‘after my actions,'” he said.

In closing, Mr. Papandreou argued that “all the data that reflect today’s reality point to conditions similar to those that prevailed before the 2009 crisis”. “The 2009 crisis was not just financial. It was a crisis of institutions and political culture. There were no democratic checks and balances to put a stop to the rampant waste, corruption and mismanagement that ultimately led us to the financial crisis and credibility deficit. If you had contributed to the consolidation of democratic institutions and showed respect for their democratic functioning and democratic control, then we would have avoided many of the sufferings that all Greeks are experiencing,” the former prime minister underlined.

“We believe in democratic socialism, that the means we use – that is, democratic practice – are both a compass and shape our final destination.” concluded.

RES-EMP

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