Editorial Ta Nea: A toxic political environment

Those who projected that we were headed toward a calm pre-electoral period with maturity and respect for institutions will likely be proven wrong.

The no confidence motion tabled by main opposition SYRIZA is within the limits of parliamentarism and absolutely predictable.

It is also, however, a step toward a pre-electoral path of toxicity, coffee shop or stadium-type skirmishes, and a sterile clash in which the affair in which black bags were given to a businessman to start a pro-government [SYRIZA at the time] television channel will be juxtaposed to the current government’s EYP surveillance affair.

Yesterday’s parliamentary debate was indicative.

A regular discussion on a health ministry bill was transformed into a high-pitched debate that ended in a no confidence motion tabled by SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras.

Meanwhile, in a host of television talk show panels, political opponents engage in something akin to a rooster fight, usually over issues that are not among citizens’ top concerns.

The country, however, has neither the time nor room for intense arguments, sterile political fights, or inflammatory rhetoric.

On the contrary, Greece faces challenges as regards achieving reforms, growth, investments, normalcy, and extroversion.

All these issues must be addressed at a time that the country faces a series of challenges –from Turkey’s revisionist posture and the pandemic to climate change and inflationary trends.

Clearly, political disagreements should exist and be pursued

This must occur, however, in a democratic framework with rules, and not in a manner that simply alienates citizens from parties and the political process.

Even after the no confidence vote, on Saturday morning parties must re-evaluate their stance.