A lack of leadership

Greece has always been a fortunate country because at times of major crises its leaders were capable of shining on the international stage.

Eleftherios Venizelos was on exactly the same level as David Lloyd George and the rest of his contemporaries. The Greek statesman's decisions, his understanding of international relations and what he earned at the negotiating table were no coincidence. A patriot who believed in the Megali Idea concept of Greek nationalism, Venizelos also made sure he maintained his "exportable" qualities, fully aware that this is what counted at the end of the day.

Constantine Karamanlis was a similar kind of leader. A self-made man, he showed tremendous stamina and instinct and managed to stand on an equal par with the sacred monsters of his era, including German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, among...