The upcoming show in Thessaloniki

As is customary in Greece, the first "big" political event after the summer lull is the opening of the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) at the beginning of September.

This year's TIF is just three weeks away and the government is already preparing for it. It is getting ready to put on a grand public relations display worthy of its traditions and skills.

No one can forget the historic "Thessaloniki Program" unveiled by Alexis Tsipras in 2014, which was so unrealistic, yet it brought SYRIZA to power. As everybody knows, this particular government has distinguished itself almost exclusively through its public relations maneuvering and clientelism and in no other area.

We pretty much know what the prime minister's speech at TIF will focus on, since he has already publicly touted his government's successes, many of which are imagined. Even those that do...