In a speech filled with scathing criticism of Greece’s political class, which he blamed squarely for the country’s present decline, President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias on Saturday blasted all those that he said had prevented Greece from becoming a modern, European democracy.
“The disapproval that is today levelled against the political system is often crude in its generalisation but justified at its core,” Papoulias underlined.
The president was speaking at a reception held at the presidential mansion on Saturday morning to mark the 36th anniversary since the restoration of democracy, after the fall of the military junta that then ruled Greece in July 1974.
No less severe was his disapproval of those that displayed “trade union autism” in their protests while disregarding the interests of society as a whole.
The president’s speech outlined the chronic problems in the country and stressed that the State had to first give an example, while he underlined the need to give prospects to the younger generations “that are shouldering the greatest burden in the crisis”. At another point in his speech, he said that the demolition of the European social model was a “panic reaction” while he appeared confident that the EU would weather the storm because “the common interests of its people are strong”.
In light of the economic crisis, this year’s reception followed the simpler and less ostentatious pattern adopted in 2009, without a buffet in the presidential gardens or a live orchestra.
The event was attended by Greece’s entire state and political leadership, including Prime Minister George Papandreou, main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras and all the political party leaders except Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga. There were also representatives of the clergy, MPs, MEPs and several academics, in addition to other officials.
At the centre of attention once again were resistance fighters against the dictatorship and also 12 students and young scientists that had distinguished themselves in their respective fields, including this year’s top-scoring candidate in the nationwide university entrance examinations, disabled highschool student Rafael Papadopoulos.
(source: ana-mpa)
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
