Some cause for optimism

The presence of new conservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis during yesterday’s parliamentary debate on pension reform was a cause for optimism.

First of all, there was some self-criticism about New Democracy’s own mistakes in the past, namely when the party joined forces with vested interests to oppose planned reforms.

Secondly, Mitsotakis put forward several alternative proposals to the government’s plans.

Most importantly, the main opposition leader highlighted a fundamental truth about Greece’s social security system. Its problems cannot be solved without economic growth or without releasing the country’s productive forces.

And this brings us to the main difference between the SYRIZA-led government and the conservative opposition. While the government claims to be in favor of entrepreneurship and investments, some of its senior ministers are doing their best to fight them. A very bad omen indeed.