RESULTS of a poll published last week signal, without a doubt, the rise of the left in Greece. At the same time, they also highlight the fact that people are getting fed up with the constant negative approach espoused by many leftists in this country.
Both Alexis Tsipras, leader of Syriza, and Aleka Papariga, leader of the Communist Party (KKE), have expressed their disagreement with the highly unpopular troika memorandum by calling for mass mobilisations and a distancing of Greece from the EU.
That’s as far as it goes.
If the recent poll is to be taken seriously, their naysaying approach seems to have been vindicated. Both parties recorded double-digit approval ratings, from single digits in the last national elections. And although polls should be taken with a pinch of salt at such volatile times, they do signal certain trends.
To many observers, the poll results suggest that an anti-memorandum platform is the way forward for aspiring politicians and their parties. And they’re probably right, given the rise of both Syriza and the KKE, according to the polls. But by simply attacking the forces of capitalism and offering no real remedy to the situation other than calling for rallies, the appeal to voters of colliding head-on with the powers that be may gradually fade.
Indeed, the fact that moderate voices such as that of Fotis Kouvelis, leader of the newly-formed Democratic Left party, have also gained in popularity, points to the fact that the nihilist approach advocated by other leftist parties may not actually carry the day.
Kouvelis has stated his serious objections to the memorandum as well, but insists that the negative and anti-European approach is not the way to go about it. He has not called for mass mobilisations that could inflict more harm than good to country’s economy. Instead of the usual fiery rhetoric, he has opted for a more tempered and mild-mannered approach.
Given the fact that his party came from modest beginnings to leapfrog both Syriza and KKE, his pro-European creed may be filling a vacuum that the aggressive approach of Syriza and KKE has created.
The naysaying approach has, no doubt, catapulted the popularity of both KKE and Syriza so far. But if Kouvelis’ apparent rise in the polls is anything to go by, the electorate may be looking for alternatives to the constant negative rhetoric of the left that has nothing more to offer.
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Naysaying is easy. Coming up with realistic solutions is hard, and very often politically unpopular. Because still too many Greeks simply don't want to hear the awful truths about the myriad of problems harming their state. But left wing politicans, like Tsipras, should come up with reasonable programs now. More of the same old dishonest populism isn't an option when the whole nation is standing at an abyss.
I'm sure that many Greek voters will welcome any leader who grows a spine now and makes an honest stand against tax evasion, corruption, lazyness in the administration, the political clientele system, and all those other aberrations that ruined Greece. People should have a good choice at the election, not simply between different shades of demagoguery. There have to be responsible politicians on the ballot who run on a program of reason, truth and facts! Either Tsipras and Papariga show now that they are such leaders, or they should make room for better folks. Put up or shut up! Greece needs a CHANGE.