Endemic corruption

97% of citizens Greece believes that corruption has penetrated all levels of government. And, in the opinion of the majority, it is not the abstract “system” that is to blame for this, but a group of specific individuals – government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Corruption in Greece has become not the exception, but the rule. According to the survey Kappa Research for the fund Heinrich Boll, 97% Greeks We are sure that systemic corruption reigns in the country. Of these, 72% say “universal”, and another 25% say “widespread”. And yes, everyone knows where its center is – in and around power.

When asked where corruption is felt most strongly, 59% pointed to the cutting of national and European resources “for personal interests.” 39% each named the courts and the civil service – the same one where a bribe has long become a form of politeness. In other words, Greek society no longer considers corruption to be the work of a few officials: we are talking about the very vertical of power, about Mitsotakis regime.

Trust collapses along with institutions

It is not surprising that trust in government fell to 34%, and by justice – up to 28%. Two thirds of Greeks openly say: we need a political change. And it’s not just about prices and the crisis of life – the problem is deeper: the country has stopped believing in the honesty of the state mechanism itself.

Scandals that shattered illusions

The list is long and grim. OPECPEPE – a story with fraudulent payments, in which, according to the official version, “farmers and a couple of officials” are to blame, although society believes otherwise. Next is the tragedy in Tempiwhere two trains collided “blindly”, and citizens are sure: the minister and his department avoided responsibility thanks to political cover.

There were also eavesdropping – with the shadow of state participation in illegal espionage. Was “Lista Pec» with the distribution of advertising budgets between the “right” media. There were friendship tenders, deputies receiving contracts directly from state-owned companies, and a “sudden” increase in income in deputies’ declarations New Democracy according to Vouliwatch. The picture is complete – these are not scandals, but symptoms of a single disease.

Politics as business

The problem is not “bad people”, but the new culture of power. Today people enter politics not for service, but for a career. Ministers and deputies calmly move from business to government and back. And the closer you are to Megaro Maximthe more natural it is to believe that power is the right to everything. The rhetoric about “normality” covers up a regime where they receive contracts and grants on the fly.

Endemic rather than exclusive

This is how a fortune is born endemic corruptionwhich is no longer noticed. It is woven into everyday life, into the very feeling of “power as right.” Society feels this on an intuitive level – and therefore no longer trusts either the government, or the courts, or those who talk about “normality”.

The most dangerous thing about this is that after such an experience, mistrust will remain even when this power leaves. And this is the main damage that the Mitsotakis regime has caused: a country that has ceased to believe in the integrity of institutions is unable to unite for something better.

The opinion of the author may not coincide with the opinion of the editors

Source link