Consensus decision-making

The National Liberal Party (PNL, opposition, ed. n.) cannot reach a political consensus with the PSD and ALDE (major at rule Social Democrat Party and minor at rule Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, ed.

The Greek people expect their political leaders to display a mature attitude and provide solutions to their problems. 

The upcoming review of the Greek Constitution presents them with an opportunity to live up to those expectations. It is very important that the mainstream parties find a way to reach consensus on certain key issues. 

One main reason that countries plunge into prolonged periods of decline is the absence of consensus. Greece has paid dearly for this. With a little consensus, we could have had private universities, we could have avoided bankruptcy and could have exited the bailouts much earlier.

The government insists on snubbing opposition parties on crucial national issues. On the name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, ruling officials refrained from briefing the opposition on the progress of negotiations with Skopje, even after talks were complete.

A review of the Constitution is a necessary process that will help the country deal with longstanding problems and weaknesses.

The proposal for a "mini-review" that will focus on a handful of priorities, such as changes to the law protecting ministers from criminal prosecution, is practical and it would be good to see it go ahead.

The barrage of significant developments in Greek-Turkish relations over the past couple of months - and especially the last few weeks - are ample proof that nothing can be taken for granted any longer.

The referendum results provided hope, but for nothing! Despite all the political pressure, the close race in the votes represented a great success in the name of democratic dissent, but it was a success in vain! The high score of the "no" votes in spite of all the odds feels good, but only as good as the last breath before death. 

President Tomislav Nikolic's platform for Kosovo and Metohija could be on the agenda of the national assembly at the earliest in late July or early August.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Saturday stated in Iasi, while taking part in the manifestations occasioned by the 156th anniversary since the unification of the Romanian Principalities, that the power of solidarity "is the most important lesson that we should learn from the event 156 years ago."

Photo (c) Adrian CUBA / AGERPRES STREAM

President Klaus Iohannis has announced on Monday that he has obtained the necessary consensus so that Defense budgeting reaches 2 percent of the GDP in 2017.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES PHOTO