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A second term in government is always tiring, not to say exhausting. Whether or not there\u2019s a rival matters little, though having a strong opponent challenging your primacy can act as a good tonic for fatigue.<\/p>\n
Politics, particularly at the highest level, is a tough gig anyway. This has always been the case, but it\u2019s even harder in this day and age. The complete lack of privacy, pressure from social media and rampant toxicity can break even the most thick-skinned politician with the stomach to deal with the pressure. Just look at how many rising young stars burst onto the global political stage just to end up seeking shelter behind the doors of an American university or some startup.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Politics is also a feat, and in Greece, especially, it\u2019s like a free-for-all rugby game on an uneven pitch. There are, you see, the things that are visible but also other challenges that aren\u2019t that need to be dealt with by the person governing. The balance of economic and political power has shifted significantly over the years. Those who, in theory, are entrusted with the country\u2019s fate are constantly consumed by an endless cycle of gossip, \u201che said, she said,\u201d and backroom dealings. They are usually pinned to a phone that adds nothing to their edification and isolates them from people who may have a different view on things. As time passes, flattery becomes a tonic.<\/p>\n
Greece is also a country where a mishap is always lurking around the corner. The pillars it is standing on are so rotten you can only feel insecurity. This is true of the police, of the armed forces and of all other basic services of the Greek state.<\/p>\n
Things are changing for the better, but too slowly, and quick fixes are way more frequent that meaningful, structural changes. Significant problems persist and they also deter foreign investors who are not willing to pay the \u201ctoll\u201d or make an investment that relies even slightly on the state or does not threaten local interests.<\/p>\n
Greece finds itself in a rare interlude of stability and calm in the middle of a very turbulent international setting. We have two years ahead of us with no visible political obstacles or milestones, something rare.<\/p>\n
The prime minister has recently opted for safe choices with zero risk, securing smooth sailing ahead. But is calm enough? It is, but only if it is used to bring meaningful change. We can\u2019t relax just because we\u2019re in a state of calm and everyone else is in turmoil. Interludes end and opportunities like the one afforded to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in 2019 are rare. This is what matters; not what the next public opinion polls says or whether the party is happy. After all, history has shown us that fear or bold reforms may make the party happy, but it also renders a second term entirely unproductive and futile.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n