The election campaign hasn’t even officially begun, yet the race to offer benefits is already in full swing.
On the one hand, Nikos Androulakis is promising free public transportation for all young people up to age 24 and a four-day workweek with full pay. On the other hand, Alexis Tsipras raises the bar, proposing free public transportation for all citizens, the abolition of Panhellenic exams, and raises of hundreds of euros for entire categories of civil servants.
The picture resembles a contest of political promises. One promises something, the other promises more. The first offers free transportation to young people, the second to everyone. The first talks about less work for the same pay, the second about generous raises and additional benefits. And somewhere in between, the picture remains unclear.
Of particular interest is reappearance of Alexis Tsipras on the political scene. “Ten years ago, in ’15, even though I knew what I wanted to do, I didn’t know how. Now I know both what and how,” he stated confidently. This is certainly a sincere admission. The problem is that the time it took him to “learn how” came at a high cost to the country. The much-discussed negotiations of 2015 resulted in an unnecessary third bailout agreement that burdened the Greek economy with tens of billions of euros. If this was the cost of learning, it is perfectly reasonable for many citizens to view the former prime minister’s new assertions with skepticism.
As for Nikos Androulakis, he seems to be following the same path, albeit with a different spin. The logic is familiar. There is always a bold promise, an easy announcement, and the certainty that the funds will be found somewhere. If Tsipras’s statement describes someone who has learned through experience, the president of PASOK appears as yet another self-appointed messiah asking citizens to trust him so that he, too, can gain his own experience in governance. The question is who will pay the tuition.
The country has spent a decade paying dearly for illusions. That is why citizens have every reason to view with skepticism those who make promises before explaining who will foot the bill. Tsipras wants us to believe that he has now learned his lesson. Androulakis wants us to believe that he will learn without any cost. Two different messiahs, the same old story. The difference is that Greeks now have enough experience to know that political miracles usually end up being paid for in installments by taxpayers.
