The annual conference of the e-kyklos think tank started at noon, with the theme: “Greece After VII: Asymmetries and national agenda“, with the presentation of Metron Analysis’ research on the asymmetries that the country is going through.
Present of the president of PASOK-KINAL Nikos Androulakisof the newly elected mayor of Athens Harry Doukasof the deputy minister of the interior Th. Livaniou and institutional actors, the head of Metron Analysis Stratos Fanaras and her scientific partner Giannis Balapanidis presented the findings of the research, while it was commented on by Evangelos Venizelos.
Metron Analysis’ research finds asymmetry in the country’s political system at three levels. In relation to society, in relation to the way the country is governed and in relation to the international challenges it has to face, whether they directly affect it (Greek-Turkish relations) or indirectly (effects of the crisis in the Middle East).
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Mr. Venizelos observed that society has sense of the asymmetry that existsbut it is in contradiction, while understanding what is happening in the country, and does not see solutions and stands awkwardly. It accepts, thus, to work with low expectations.
“They are not disturbed political associations that arose from the recent elections, but the message of the second round of the self-governing elections is, on the one hand, to the government not to claim that everything was decided by the results of the elections, and on the other hand, to the opposition, that a comprehensive parliamentary approach to things is needed. Although it is difficult, within the framework of the parliamentary system, for an autonomous alternative majority government proposal to appear, the dilemma is: “Either the opposition parties will formulate it alone, or they will have to discuss the possibility of collaborations, but the electoral system excludes them”, emphasized Evangelos Venizelos.
As for the foreign policy findings, he observed that “society wants consensus, especially in Greek-Turkish, even for recourse to The Hague, but the government must take the initiative, not the opposition, for this.”
Stratos Fanaras reported that the 65% say that things must change radically and be done important reforms, but the political system cannot respondwhile it becomes clear that institutional counterweights are required.
He also added that there seems to be a consolidation of political associations and that we are far from it momentum of the opposition.
THE Giannis Balapanidis observed that there is a sense of the citizens that the government cannot deal with the need to change things in the country and at the same time the opposition seems to be “black box“, being unable to check internally, in the context of its role in the political system, the respective governance in order to achieve a balance.
It is recorded that there is a stable social substrate receptive to reforms aimed at the better functioning of democracy and adaptation to new value data, but the political system is unable to adequately describe these changes and assume a guiding-pedagogical role.
At the level of governance, for example, it is recorded that the citizens’ feeling of frustration is exacerbated by the image of an ineffective state, with the political system being primarily responsible, overall and over time.
In conclusion, it is emphasized that “political asymmetry, as initially defined (disproportion of social demands with elaborated and accepted political solutions), seems to be confirmed at the three levels investigated. As regards the relationship of the political system with society, a gap can be seen from the outset. Pessimistic assessments of the current situation form a strong call for reform. However, the political system does not seem to work in a guiding way, realistically framing mature changes or “educating” society where the reception for changes is present, but not majority. Social demand does not always meet political supply.
As for governance, a double asymmetry of its architecture can be found. On the one hand, the chronic ineffectiveness of the state apparatus in an era of multiple crises is mainly attributed to the political system, exacerbating disillusionment with it. On the other hand, here too there is a social demand for balancing mechanisms against the formation of strong poles of power and proposals with wider acceptance are emerging, which could form the basis of wider consultation and action.
As for the international level, in a world of asymmetric threats, our “belonging” to the European, primarily, and wider Western geopolitical context seems to be entrenched – in fact, with a “demand” for relative autonomy and deepening of Europe.
