We can see and hear
Something optimistic has emerged from the latest survey conducted by Pulse on behalf of Skai, which calculated the electoral power of Greek political parties: This was that an overwhelming 82 percent of respondents said they were “rather unsatisfied” or “definitely not satisfied” with the political climate and level of political debate in the country.
Of them, 35 percent blamed ruling SYRIZA for this state of affairs, 12 percent blamed New Democracy, while 21 percent blamed both main parties.
This tells us that citizens can see, hear and understand what is happening. They feel uneasy about what the poll described as a “low level of political debate.” And to push that idea further, won’t the blame that burdens the two main parties – and mainly SYRIZA – translate into more votes for neo-Nazi Golden Dawn, to the point that it will help it remain firmly in third place?
On the one hand, as we move closer to the national election and the pre-campaign climate becomes tenser, voting intentions are gradually becoming more apparent, with the conservatives clearly in the lead. On the other hand, in the stale political climate, people appear to be misjudging events, as if reality is becoming muddled, with the bizarre and unpredictable gaining ground.
Since the economic crisis began, we have been discussing extensively the irrationality, anger, division, toxicity and constant distortion of reality that has dominated politics. None of that has subsided. But the mixing of all those elements produces some truths, as well as fatigue and “monsters.”
Greece’s political class will have to display bravery and reach a consensus on the basics. Nobody in their right mind is expecting miracle-workers or is hoping for someone to make excessive promises. It is no coincidence that recent government pledges for more state hirings and benefits met with a muted response from Greeks.
The government had hoped that this would result in a narrowing gap between the two main parties in the polls. Instead, that gap is widening.
Lies and the government’s communication tricks are not fooling the people – or at least they are fooling fewer of them.
This 82 percent is saying, in its own way, that “we see you,” we recognize the mistakes that have been made, what hurts the country and what needs to be done to move it forward.
The economy is on shaky ground again, unemployment remains stubbornly high, those who left the country are not coming back and economic growth will not come without effort. Power mainly suffers from blindness.
