Gov’t officials hide behind “thin” walls in fear of public ire

The tough new measures are causing the PASOK party members and leading figures side-effects as many of them, including the PM George Papandreou and the finance minister Evangelos Venizelos, are trying to escape the angry shots fired against them by members of the public, who seem unable to tighten the belt even more.

It is said that high-ranking government officials even wish to reduce their televised “show time”, fearing that if they continue to act the same way, discussing their opinions and ideas publicly while the people of Greece are near asphyxiation point, they will be led to self-destruction and a leadership collapse.

Thus, not wishing to be in the spotlight, Venizelos avoided making the announcements late on Wednesday night, choosing the government’s spokesman Elias Mossialos to do the honours.

As for the Greek premier, George Papandreou has remained behind the curtain ever since his speech at the TIF. What is more, especially after his trip to New York was canceled, Papandreou only gives hints of his existence and role from time to time.

The atmosphere is equally heavy in the parliamentary group, with many MPs considering resignation.

Many are the ministers who are also deepening the wound by believing that the country must go to snap elections, thus hoping to shake the “yoke” of responsibility, or at the very least share it with the other parties.

Translated by Lida Filippakis