Nothing is more fragile than a reputation

Nothing is more fragile than a reputation. Less than two years ago, the Greece was cited as an example in Europe. With economic growth of 4 on average over the past decade, she ventured in the field of new technologies and made amends to run behind the average of the euro area. The optimism was last on this seemingly have been galvanized by his entry into the single currency.

Cruel turnaround: last December, following a police blunder, the televisions around the world broadcast the spectacle of a youth without hope, breaking the Windows of stores, making Athens a lawless area and claiming his detestation of State unable to offer him a future. A few months later, while today, the unions of the country are calling for a national strike, it is financially the attention: with a debt representing 95 of the GDP, the Greece attracted the ire of Brussels. Some commentators even evoke the risk of default and the scenario of a way out of the euro. The excess of pessimism successor to also excessive enthusiasm Or the Greece actually become the weakest link in the euro area

"Let's be serious, there is not the slightest risk of default: we finance our debt without any problem." This point of view is, of course, from the mouth of George Sfakianakis, who heads the Council of economists from the Ministry of the economy. It is not relayed by all specialists, some political dashboard they are. In fact, the Greek State has already found licensee for half of the bonds to be issued in 2009. "The real issue is that of the cost of this loan," said Panayiotis Thomopoulos, former Vice-Governor of the Central Bank. In these times of investor timidity, everyone gushes on considered as safe products, including the German debt, despite terrible conditions German. Conversely, the Greece is forced to surrémunérer his lenders. The gap between the German and Greek rates flew, leading, according to Panayiotis Thomopoulos, "additional costs of at least EUR 1.3 billion.

"The problem is the State."

However the Greek State did not need this. Heavily indebted, he is already "cut in investment spending", regretted the Kostas Theos consultant. "The State plays a crucial role in the Greek economy." "And today, he pays so much extended time that some companies are in danger," judge. It is in fact the joystick steering of the economy which influenza: the programs of investment support, for example, to develop poor areas, realized in dribs and drabs. Confirmation of a French contractor on the spot: "Of the 40 million euros of subsidies which we are promised since 2005, we have received 1.4 million!" Too bad for the development of the territory and long-term strategy. Another perverse effect: it makes the "fakilaki", this "small envelope" well known to the Greeks, even more necessary to unblock funding to the decision-making officer... What makes say to Rihardos Someritis, columnist for the daily newspaper "To vima", that corruption is now "a cancer that has spread throughout the social body."

Let's start with the top of the pyramid. The current leadership was elected on a promise of political morality. "We had some 50 of scandals over the past five years," was strangled Giorgos Kolovos, an active student December demonstrations. "How do you want that young people feel not frustration" asks Thanos Dokos, the Director of the main "think tank" Greek, Eliamep. Nothing to say, moreover, that the opposition would be much better in this area: it is the political system which took the habit of work on nepotism and patronage. And the commentator Rihardos Someritis to recall his debut in journalism: "at the time, a Karamanlis began his political career and a Papandreou end.". Small precision: the current Prime Minister is a Karamanlis and the leader of the opposition... a Papandreou. Respectively nephew and grandson of the previous ones.

Is there a relationship of cause and effect The fact is that the overall effectiveness of the public machine is largely unsatisfactory. "It's a nightmare," judge already quoted French investor. Integrate the administration remains the dream of the majority of the students, because it is the guarantee of long-term employment, paid decently... and without an excessive workload. The most surprising is that, even on this point, the consensus is total between economists "liberal" or "Keynesians". Same with entrepreneurs: "for most of them, said Kostas Theos, the problem of the Greece, it is the State.

With a bloated and largely inefficient administration, business leaders hoped that the current Government of center-right, would commit the necessary reforms. He has done that very marginally. He has not actually chipped the many regulations and protections for certain professions. The competition is low. All this affects national competitiveness. The figures speak for themselves. "With a current account deficit representing 14.5 of the GDP, we consume any longer that we produce the rest of the world", noted economist Gikas Hardouvelis. In the end, the Greek machine loses effectiveness, and include younger generations who rap.

"Generation 700 euros.

As employers, to remain competitive, partly bypass many protections existing, intended to protect employees. "There is a true duality of the labour market," said economist Panos Tsakloglou: on the one hand, protected and, on the other, precarious or even jobs occupations not reported. What makes the Greece "one of the most unequal countries in Europe", said Panos Tsakloglou. Talking now of the "generation 700 euros", in reference to the first low wages of young many assets.

In this context, the inaction of the Government returns, of course, the lack of political courage. But it also takes its source in the history of the modern Greece. Explanation of Pashos Mandravelis, columnist of highly respected daily "kathimerini" newspaper: "In this country, the right was essentially built, in the aftermath of the civil war, on the spectre of the left." "" "The left thus appropriated all of the political debate, while the right is illustrated by its ideological vacuum", he concludes. Combat the omnipresence of the State therefore never did part of his obsessions.

The District of Exarhia, where young Alexandros, last December was shot, and hence are parties all the demonstrations, is an illustration. Not a wall which is invaded with graffiti or political posters calling for the combat against the choice, American imperialism or the liberal reforms. High place of Greek anarchism, it is the breeding ground of all rebellions. Culture of the challenge in the universities, where about a third of students are members of political parties. And where the police is not the right to intervene since the students, in 1974, led the revolt that eventually bring down the military dictatorship. "In 30 years, the country moved into a drift of permissiveness, to the point that during the recent riots, the police remained remote as bandits were looting the city with impunity", said Thanos Veremis, a Professor of history policy. But he feels that today ' hui "the breaking point has been reached: people have enough, because in the end, this is to let a handful of bandits gorging then with the invoice to the taxpayer."

However it begins to feel the weight of the crisis. The Government has just announced "point" of tax increases on first employees. During this time, between 30 and 40 of the assets, autoentrepreneurs an unprecedented proportion in Europe almost escape tax. They need only say only a small part of their activities. At a time where you replenish the coffers of the State, all economists agree: is this deposit would, finally, operate. That Thanos Dokos summarized in these words: "one day or another, need much sought a bill the plumber." After to be focused on the Polish plumber, the Europeans would be may well look at Athens or Thessaloniki.