Public trust in Greek politicians falls even lower following Siemens scandal report

ΤΡΕΛΕΣ ΕΚΠΤΩΣΕΙΣ ΣΕ ΟΛΕΣ ΤΙΣ ΜΙΖΕΣ ΣΤΟ PASOK SALES, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Yesterday the Greek parliament released its long awaited report on the Siemen bribery scandal. According to the authors of the report the German electronic giant poured millions of euros into the party coffers of both PASOK and New Democracy when they were in power. In return the Greek government granted Siemens lucractive contracts which are said to have incurred additional costs in the region of two billion euros.

As expected report has become a political football with parties making five different sets of recommendations over who is to blame and which poiliticians should be investigated further. The reality of the situation is that whatever happens there is little or no chance that anyone will go to jail. Once again the political leadership has proved that it is unwilling or unable to police its own no matter how how serious the charges. Instead it is reduced to playing power games which are convincing fewer and fewer voters who believe that the country is run by a deeply corrupt, moral bankrupt elite. The report coming just after one concerning the Vatopedi land swap scandal will do little to convince many of the honesty of politicians whose popularity rating are reaching record lows.