A meaningful intervention

It is rare to hear a member of Parliament make a meaningful contribution that transcends the miserly framework of what passes as public dialogue.

One of those rare contributions was made during the debate in Parliament on the budget, a five-day affair that was overshadowed by interminable accusations and put-downs. It was in this climate that New Democracy MP Dora Bakoyannis presented a proposal that stands above the sterile rivalries we are accustomed to.

"Greece is among those privileged countries whose citizens will be able to receive the [coronavirus] vaccination by the summer," she said. "As the country that invented democracy, Greece must take the international initiative to ensure that these vaccinations also reach the Third World, countries that do not have the opportunities of the Greek economy and the Greek people. The pressure on the big pharmaceutical...