When Zoran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City, precisely because he came from the Democrats, the Greek left found yet another example to admire.
Although there was no reason for celebration and comparison. Big talk from Alexis Tsipras, Charis Doukas, a bunch of left-wing politicians and of course a mountain of celebrations from the usual toxic trolls.
A few months after the first Muslim mayor took office, however, things have changed for the worse. Zoran Mamdani did in his speech what the Left knows well: he announced a huge deficit, asked for help from Trump’s central government, and admitted that his promises will be delayed in coming to fruition.
Which in the language of a Leftist means they will never come to fruition. For example, where he was going to give immediate free rides on public transportation, he announced an increase in fares to $3.
The recent speech was an alibi for not implementing his pledges, which include all the utopian stuff the Left usually spouts in the US and Greece and everywhere else: free transportation, free homes for the weak, more social programs and benefits.
In his speech the day before yesterday, he also talked about the need to cut back, without specifying where he would cut money, but the choices are few: either do no new work in the city or cut social programs, which are already costly. Somehow, though, his promises are going down the drain and the city will have a mayor who will do virtually no projects.
After all, he said during the election that he wouldn’t make cuts but would tax the very rich. Now not only is he talking about cuts and raising fares but he’s taken back a proposal to raise property taxes after fierce opposition. And he’s looking for new ways to increase the city’s tax revenue.
Cuts, new taxes, price increases and at best a suspension of his campaign pledges. Is this perhaps reminiscent of the Alexis Tsipras era?
Mamdani is not just another example of the Left failing and anyway being forced to face reality and compromise. It is mostly a reminder that populists and demagogues are not going to change and it is good to remember this now that our politicians have again started a contest of promises with no tomorrow.
