A great president

By Alexis Papachelas

I fully understand the country’s need for political stability, a necessity which makes the election of a president by the current Parliament absolutely imperative.

At the same time, however, I also believe it would be a mistake for the House to elect just any old politician as the country’s next president. At this point in time the country and its people need much more than that.

There is no more room left for yet another product of compromise, a solution that seems like the lowest common denominator. We’ve had more than our fair share of mediocrities over the last few decades.

What the country needs right now is a president who will boost Greece’s prestige abroad, a personality who will prove luminous and trustworthy on an international level. This is a country that has been greatly discredited over the last few years and which is in need of a leading representative whose voice will be heard.

We need a president who will raise the spirits of the average Greek, someone people will find worthy of the position.

When a nation finds itself in a state of prolonged decay it goes in search of moral support, someone to lean upon and give people a sense that the country is actually turning the page.

As far as I’m concerned I think the election of a person from outside of politics for the presidency would be the ultimate move in a process of catharsis. It would also demonstrate that the political system is capable of self-criticism and that it has picked up the signals of the times.

I know it’s not easy for any of today’s political leaders to think outside the box. Unfortunately, their horizon only goes as far as making it to tomorrow or the day after. The difficult task of trying to manage a...