dromos protectorate
“Let΄s not become a full protectorate” Full? Lessons from a slip of the tongue (Kostas Andrianopoulos
Dromos newspaper)
The demand for sovereignty grows stronger
Kostas Andrianopoulos
Dromos newspaper
July 9 2011
The political climate in Greece is shifting. The air is heavier after the parliamentary vote approving the medium- term austerity plan and the main focus of the news is changing. Rapidly, openly and in patently obvious ways, Greece is being transformed into a protectorate. Not just in ideological terms, but also in ways that deeply modify the state itself. This process requires active and conscious government participation, it is not just an outcome of negligence or omissions.
Last week, Jean-Claude Junker stated publically and cynically that Greek sovereignty will be massively restricted as the country accepts Eu aid. In doing so, the eurogroup president revealed the name of the game. He also took a step towards familiarizing the Greek public with this painful issue. Once we are aware of the greater picture, it is easier to interpret the deluge of new laws and the separate bits of information. Information such as that in the greek ministries, troika representatives are all powerful high commissioners, not just helpers in the accounting department. Or that Greek universities will be evaluated by people whose only qualification seems to be that they ll be foreigners. Or that the building code will change according to where one comes from. Or that, concerning the ship to Gaza, Israel’s borders reach Perama port.
In parliament, the new finance minister, Venizelos, asked for consensus so that we don’t turn into a “full protectorate”.”Full”? What is hiding behind this slip of the tongue? The previous period was slightly different. At first the Troika allowed Papandreou some flexibility as to how their common plan would be implemented. The socialist party (PASOK) has handled the implementation of the memorandum and so the party has survived until now. The fine balance of the first period was over in February 2011, when it was announced that 50 bn worth of assets would be privatized, then that the entire country would be privatized. Ever since, the orders sound more urgent, more harsh, more predatory. No more need for political deception, no more government communication strategy. We no longer do we hear things like “we re saving the country, we are reforming, we are helping the economy recover”. Targeted for destruction now is sovereignty and anything that reminds us of it.
It was announced that the new loan convention will have draconian provisions binding all future governments. Translation: the internal aspects of subservience now need to be adressed. We are fast approaching the model of a traditional protectorate, both in its characteristics and in the totalitarian ways the regime is being imposed.
In these circumstances, demands for independence and sovereignty grow louder and clearer. These demands will prevail and they give meaning to the struggle against the bailout. The underlying theoretical aspects will also change radically. There will be less distortion in our views of globalization, of the relation between inside and outside. The Greek people will understand that they need to subject themselves to international competition. In order to achieve a modicum of autonomy, so as to play this game, sovereignty must be achieved through political struggle today, not refered to the socialist future. Renationalisation of decision making mechanisms is a requirement for every country willing to participate in the global affairs as a separate entity. The limits of this renationalization will be publically discussed soon and, in view of the county’s rapid transformation into a protectorate, setting these limits will become a pressing need.
Kostas Andrianopoulos
Dromos newspaper
July 9 2011
The political climate in Greece is shifting. The air is heavier after the parliamentary vote approving the medium- term austerity plan and the main focus of the news is changing. Rapidly, openly and in patently obvious ways, Greece is being transformed into a protectorate. Not just in ideological terms, but also in ways that deeply modify the state itself. This process requires active and conscious government participation, it is not just an outcome of negligence or omissions.
Last week, Jean-Claude Junker stated publically and cynically that Greek sovereignty will be massively restricted as the country accepts Eu aid. In doing so, the eurogroup president revealed the name of the game. He also took a step towards familiarizing the Greek public with this painful issue. Once we are aware of the greater picture, it is easier to interpret the deluge of new laws and the separate bits of information. Information such as that in the greek ministries, troika representatives are all powerful high commissioners, not just helpers in the accounting department. Or that Greek universities will be evaluated by people whose only qualification seems to be that they ll be foreigners. Or that the building code will change according to where one comes from. Or that, concerning the ship to Gaza, Israel’s borders reach Perama port.
In parliament, the new finance minister, Venizelos, asked for consensus so that we don’t turn into a “full protectorate”.”Full”? What is hiding behind this slip of the tongue? The previous period was slightly different. At first the Troika allowed Papandreou some flexibility as to how their common plan would be implemented. The socialist party (PASOK) has handled the implementation of the memorandum and so the party has survived until now. The fine balance of the first period was over in February 2011, when it was announced that 50 bn worth of assets would be privatized, then that the entire country would be privatized. Ever since, the orders sound more urgent, more harsh, more predatory. No more need for political deception, no more government communication strategy. We no longer do we hear things like “we re saving the country, we are reforming, we are helping the economy recover”. Targeted for destruction now is sovereignty and anything that reminds us of it.
It was announced that the new loan convention will have draconian provisions binding all future governments. Translation: the internal aspects of subservience now need to be adressed. We are fast approaching the model of a traditional protectorate, both in its characteristics and in the totalitarian ways the regime is being imposed.
In these circumstances, demands for independence and sovereignty grow louder and clearer. These demands will prevail and they give meaning to the struggle against the bailout. The underlying theoretical aspects will also change radically. There will be less distortion in our views of globalization, of the relation between inside and outside. The Greek people will understand that they need to subject themselves to international competition. In order to achieve a modicum of autonomy, so as to play this game, sovereignty must be achieved through political struggle today, not refered to the socialist future. Renationalisation of decision making mechanisms is a requirement for every country willing to participate in the global affairs as a separate entity. The limits of this renationalization will be publically discussed soon and, in view of the county’s rapid transformation into a protectorate, setting these limits will become a pressing need.