The tragedy of the 22-year-old killed by a pole at an Easter bonfire was the inevitable outcome of criminal negligence, which for years has been covered up by a blanket of promises, inaction and blame-shifting.
Against this backdrop, Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis had the audacity – for audacity it is – to suggest that the government did what it should. “We submitted the bill to Parliament,” he said, attempting to convince us he had fulfilled his duty. How much insult to our intelligence can be packed into a single statement?
The bonfire legislation was submitted on April 8, just 11 days before Easter Saturday. This supposedly constitutes preventative policy. One wonders if they themselves believe what they’re saying.
Even if Parliament had passed it immediately, it would have been impossible to implement in time. Its provisions need time to take effect.
It’s not simply a button you press. So what they attempted to sell to the public was pure propaganda. A poorly staged PR show to convince us they “did everything they could”.
This isn’t the first time. It’s this Minister’s standard tactic. He appears with pomposity, declaring he has everything under control. That he’s taking measures and imposing order. Making grandiose statements.
Then, when things go wrong despite his declarations, he shifts blame to others. We’ve seen his behaviour on the issue of football violence, where despite his resounding soundbites, the problem continues to grow.
And it’s utopian to believe that the bill he prepared will bring the situation under control.
We’ve seen his behaviour regarding youth delinquency as well. Here too we get statements that please the ear, but the problem grows larger by the day. We’ve also witnessed his approach to organised crime.
He boasted about police successes: “Recently there have been arrests and solutions to recent and older crimes, which I believe is the result of the significantly increased measures taken recently,” he declared on Alpha TV a year ago. Since then, of course, organised crime has run rampant…
Mr Hartsiotis perfectly embodies the mentality of a politician who thinks he can deceive citizens with words, PR stunts and an excessively pompous manner. Except people aren’t gullible anymore.
Citizens now see that behind the big words lies a dismal record. They see that in every crisis, the state appears naked. Without a plan, without readiness, without responsibility.
If the Minister thinks that merely identifying problems and subsequently shifting blame constitutes policy, then he clearly hasn’t understood the role he’s meant to fulfil.
He’s not an analyst. He’s a Minister. And he must have a plan, implement it, and take preventative action. Above all, he must deliver results.
Society can no longer tolerate being deceived. We demand action, implementation, consistency and, above all, responsibility.
The continuing arrogance of those in power who avoid genuinely acknowledging their responsibilities and try to whitewash their incompetence with propaganda is now as obvious as it is infuriating.
If Mr Hartsiotis lacks the strength to admit he has failed, if he can offer nothing beyond empty statements and PR chatter, he should step aside. Let him vacate his position for someone who will dare to do real work and accept the political cost.
It may be difficult for him to understand, but we’ve reached a point where citizens will no longer tolerate hollow promises. Politics is for those with the courage to take responsibility and deliver results. Not for windbags who mislead the public and try to hide behind PR tactics.
