T
here are three necessary conditions for
establishing an environment that will be
conducive to the Greek economy’s recov-
ery. These conditions are stability, reform and, of
course, confidence. These are necessary and
sufficient in order to promote the growth of private
investment, keep recession in check, and boost
extrovert business activity.
Unfortunately, though, performance has for the
past 15 months been poor in regard to all three
conditions. Stability was lost as a result of three
elections in just one year and the imposition of cap-
ital controls; reforms either remain an exercise on
paper or are offset by counter-reform policies; and
finally, confidence was also damaged during the
course of 2015.
That said, the country’s political world, and not
only the current Government, is faced with a great
responsibility and a challenge. Because the prob-
lems that have arisen are also great and require
us to act swiftly and effectively.
First of all, they require us, the New Democracy
party, to exercise responsible and substantiated
opposition. Without populism and cheap talk, but
with specific proposals.
Populism has been one of the greatest scourges
of the post-transition-to-democracy era. Many of
our current woes have resulted from it, as well as
from clientelism and corporatism. We must not
make the same mistakes again. This is a prereq-
uisite for achieving our targets.
Then comes the formulation of a modern political
discourse, based on specific arguments.
The center-right camp is the political spectrum
that supports entrepreneurship and the major
reforms the country now needs more than ever
Trade with Greece
16
The year 2015 was particularly tough for Greece
and Greeks. The year 2016 appears to be equally
tough. The main prerequisite for overcoming
the huge economic difficulties the country is
currently facing is to find how we will get back
on the path of growth.
Fair growth through
the creation of a New
Strategic Productive Model
By Olga Kefalogianni,
MP, Coordinator for Production and Trade - New Democracy
Former Minister of Tourism
