As a new government came out of the elections held in Greece on the 4th of October 2009, expectations of new home and foreign policies have been discussed in Greece and abroad. The Socialist Party (PASOK) came out victorious and will run the country again after 5 years spent in the opposition banks. PASOK won a high-feathered victory seizing mandates for 160 members of parliament out of the 300 that the Greek assembly counts.
Without retard George Papandreu, the new Prime Minister of Greece, proclaimed a number of reforms, among which reducing the number of ministries, giving first-hand presence to women in politics and designing a set of economic and fiscal measures in order to help the country overcome effects of the global crisis.
Changes in style and government structure and composition
The Greek press gave large coverage to government’s first steps. “Close associates, experienced, new young faces and women constitute the new cabinet – Papandreou kept for himself the Foreign Ministry” headed Eleftherotypia (7.10.2009).
The new government is composed of 14 ministries (instead of the 16 ministries that were running in the previous government). Five women ministers were named in the new government.
“Bold changes in government structure”, “Papandreou clashes with PASOK’s “old guard”” wrote Estia and Eleftheros (7.10.2009).
Some newspapers were taken by surprise. “Strong team with vision and experience – George presented a flexible government with reversals and surprises”, “Government of renewals and surprises” headed Ethnos and Kathimerini (7.10.2009). But others seem to be more critical. “George and Co. government – New cabinet composed by Papandreou’s close associates” wrote Avghi (7.10.2009).
Home policies
The point where the new Prime Minister, George Papandreu, is the most awaited is the new economic spring-off that he is expected to give to the country. As Greek economy has been slowing down for the last months, new economic initiatives and new economic climate are acclaimed.
Papandreu has announced a short-term plan full of fiscal reforms and engagements of infrastructure investment. The plan foresees as stimulus package climbing up to 3 billion Euros.
A son and a grandson of Greek prime ministers, as the press puts it, and with a crushing electoral victory he seems in a position to carry out such reforms. “We must restore order to the public finances, slash state waste, support the less well-off Ţ – these are in his words some of the issues that the new Prime Minister will shortly address.
Papandreu has promised above-inflation wage rises for civil servants, increase of the taxes on the rich and fight against tax evasion, as well as reduction of the public debt.
Foreign policies
Little is expected to change in Greece’s foreign policies if not the style and the impetus of the drives the new cabinets will have to undertake. Vangjel Dule, head of a Greek minority party in Albania, reminds that the rails of the Greek foreign policy have been set in a consensual way between the main parties and no capital changes should be wisely expected (TV Klan, Opinion, 7.09.2009). Albert Rakipi, Executive Director of the Albanian Institute for International Studies, expects however the new cabinets “to seek for a more predominant role in the Balkans and in Europe” (TV Klan, Opinion, 7.09.2009).
Such structural changes that have so far been announced in the constitution and functioning of the new government have been largely commented with regards to the foreign political action of Greece.
The U.S.-born new Prime Minister of Greece has decided to act not only as Prime Minister but as a Minister of Foreign Affairs as well. Also in the chapter of changes, Papandreu abolished two ministries. The abolishment of the Macedonia -Thrace ministry has already brought a number of reactions in Greece. The Albanian politician Anastas Angjeli reminds that the ministers of the abolished ministries will be complementary ministers of the government and will have residence in Thessaloniki (TV Klan, Opinion, 7.09.2009). Though Greece’s policy towards the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) may be more conciliatory without abandoning its stand, it will depend much on the behavior of the FYROM government who lately has been pleasing a part of the population of the country but very provocative to all its immediate neighbors and western powers, reminds Albert Rakipi.
Greece and the Albanian factor
Recognizing that Greece cannot stop the development of the Albanian factor in the Balkans, the neighboring country has progressively adopted good-will policies towards its Albanian neighbors, not only to the state of Albania but to the Albanians as constituents of other states in Montenegro, Kosov련Kosovo) and FYROM, reminds Mentor Nazarko (TV Klan, Opinion, 7.09.2009). Both the analyst Mentor Nazarko and the moderator Blendi Fevziu reminded that though Greece has not recognized the new-born state of Kosov련Kosovo) and is one of the few EU countries not to have done so, the neighboring country has recognized the passports of Kosov련Kosovo) and that George Papandreu has promised to give a solution to the question of the recognition of Kosov련Kosovo) no later than 2011. Albert Rakipi observes that Greece cannot aspire to have a leading role in the European Union and have a different stand from the majority of the EU members on such a key issue in the foreign policy of the Union.
Contest on a recent agreement with Greece
The perspectives of freezing or modifying a late agreement that Albania signed with Greece over the territorial waters have not yet been discussed among parties or by the analysts. Since the agreement was signed some months ago, a part of the Albanian press has been critical to it, showing by independent expertise that the agreement has not been fair to Albania. The agreement has damaged Albania’s strategic positions and strategic interests, estimates a part of the opinion. Another part of the opinion is offended at the secrecy with which the negotiations were made and lack of qualified explanations to the citizens of Albania. The behavior of the government has generally been felt as suspicious and claims on a revision of the agreement have been abundant. The last claim was an open letter published in the front-page of the daily Shekulli, calling to halt the ratification of the agreement. Explicative analyses and information accompany this letter.
How the new Greek government will react in face of the rising claims in Albania to review or make explained a culprit-like realized agreement from the part of the Albanian government will remain to see. However the Albanian opinion is addressing the new Greek government earnest requests to review the agreement or to admit into judgment independent assessments on the unfairness of the calculations reported in the former agreement.
