Ducking responsibility

As the lingering fiasco concerning the new e-ticket system for the capital’s public transport network has powerfully demonstrated, the country’s leftist-led administration is totally unable to deal with simple day-to-day tasks.

At the same time, it’s striking that – as was the case in the wake of the widespread sea pollution caused by the sinking of the Agia Zoni II tanker off the island of Salamina south of Athens in September and the government’s belated reaction to the environmental disaster – the utter mismanagement and the impact on the capital’s commuters (captured in footage of the long queues that have been forming at issuing booths for the new electronic cards) failed to prompt a single resignation among responsible officials.

The response of government officials has so far been limited to public relations stunts and attacks against the country’s media. Once again, it seems our political class has made the mistake of underestimating the frustration of the man on the street.