Anger

Just a few years after emerging from the financial crisis, Greece looks like an islet of calm in a turbulent Europe where even the countries of Scandinavia are experiencing serious challenges to social democracy and the rule of law. It is not just the performance of its economy or the praise from authoritative international lips contributing to this image.

A failure in the state mechanism is usually followed by staffing changes that are mainly intended to placate public anger. The reaction to such failures, however, cannot be limited to tearing a service apart, even when this is necessary. Services and departments need to be rebuilt too.

Since the polls closed in Turkey on Sunday, there have been many desperate messages from acquaintances and friends in the country who cannot stand the idea of another five years of authoritarianism and oppression. They had believed, especially after the deadly earthquakes in southeastern Turkey, that the opposition would win the elections. Reality crushed them.

At election time we ask ourselves whether things today are better than they were four years ago. The answer is, by definition, subjective. But it is determined by many factors, from objective developments to each voter's desires and prejudices. That is why even when opinion polls are consistent, an election is never predictable.

We have experienced many natural disasters where the state was unable to rise to the occasion.

Because although taking to the streets to express your grief, your anger and your questions may not bring back the young faces you saw in the photos that were published when devastated relatives were seeking for their loved ones, at least in that way you feel that you mourn them as if they were all our children.

A frenzy of self-flagellation by those trying to understand Greece's weaknesses and the torrent of rage and accusations against those responsible (in fact as well as in our minds) form the two poles of the public discussion that has followed the tragedy at Tempe.

Anger, justified as it may be, can be no excuse for physical abuse or terrorism. This is a self-evident conclusion that all political parties must agree on, without asterisks.

People's anger after the deadly train collision is justified - but it is also a bad adviser. It is obvious that the elections could not be held in a climate of collective mourning and anger. Not before we have some answers over any personal and political responsibilities for the tragedy.

The recent rash of acts of violence against hospital staff tells us that the medics who work in Greece's National Health System (ESY) - the same people who were hailed as heroes during the pandemic - are falling victim once more to the failings of the system.