There is no philosopher's stone

By Pantelis Boukalas

Every prime minister announcing the party program ? when euphoric pre-election rhetoric clashes with reality ? dreams of having the philosopher?s stone that so many alchemists envisioned. In the case of the former of course not to turn cheap metals into gold but to turn words into actions and results ? without too much risk or trouble. Unfortunately for newly elected Alexis Tsipras, and for us, such a substance does not exist. He knows it is nowhere to be found. He also knows that he ought to be worried, if not scared, of another stone, one that is strict and not known for forgiveness: the touchstone, which will soon determine the substance and truth of his pronouncements and the clarity of his vision.

The party program announced by Tsipras on Sunday ? the first by a leftist prime minister in Greece, which may explain his emotion at the end ? contained a few new and a few old things. Among the new (not for SYRIZA or the left in general, but in terms of the program announcement ritual), what stood out most was the promise to grant citizenship to second-generation immigrants. This measure would have a huge, improving impact on the face of Greece, so deeply eroded by pervading xenophobia and the popularity of the positions espoused by the likes of Golden Dawn.

Implementing it will not be easy though, and not because of the expected reaction of New Democracy, whose current leadership prefers to interpret defeat as a victory. The problems will come from within the government, from the ranks of Independent Greeks, and from a large part of society that will see the measure as challenging the myths of purity and superiority it has been raised on.

The old in Tsipras?s speech concerns two announcements and one assurance,...