President of Germany, Christian Wulff, resigned Friday after prosecutors sought removal of immunity over allegations of favors. In Greece, the news was greeted with two different responses. Some people rushed to conclude that corruption is widespread even in Germany; so "who are these Germans to tell us that we are corrupt?" It is a comforting to continue cheating because everybody else around us cheat, too!
Another group, the more rationally thinking individuals, recognized that the German prosecutors requested removal of immunity of one of the highest level politician. This has never happened in Greece! Maybe it is time to start happening.
Mr. Wulff went on to say that he is stepping down "because Germany needed a president who enjoyed the full trust of the people". What a modernity for a politician to care about the trust of the people! This gets me thinking about the Greek politicians. It is beyond any doubt that they share most of the responsibility for the present situation of the country. All political parties have their share of blame, but especially the two parties which governed Greece for the last 35 years.
If I were a Greek politician (even if I belonged to the 10-20% of honest politicians), I would do the following: First of all, I will write a letter of apology to my constituency and in general to the Greek people. I will accept full responsibility for what my party and in general the political elite has done to the country. This is something Mr. George Papandreou does not have the guts to do, even though it is very clear that nepotism, corruption and mismanagement were institutionalized when his father was President. Mr. Samaras will not ask for an apology either, as if his party has not contributed to the problem. This proves, once more, that political parties in Greece are not institutions with principles; they do not act collectively and do not assume responsibility for the party's actions; the leaders act as if they are on their own (after all, Samaras speaks always in singular tense (always "I", never, "we")); the party is used as a platform to pursue personal objectives.
Now back to what I would do if I were a politician: After the letter of apology, I would impose myself a "voluntary public/community service" judgment; since the legal system will not judge me, I will show that I have the guts to judge myself. I will go back to my roots (the people in the village I was born) and put myself in their service. I will clean the streets; I will offer food to the hungry; I will help organize working groups to solve pressing issues; etc. Even if my compatriots greet me with tomatoes, I will endure it, because I know that they are reasonable people and eventually they will see that my regret is sincere. I will spend as many years as needed to help my fellow citizens who are suffering. This is the least I can do. May be this way I will "rehabilitate" my name and I will be proud again to face my friends and the Greek citizens. Maybe I will regain the lost ...trust.
