Irresponsible leaders

Listening to Greece's former Socialist prime minister George Papandreou telling Skai TV that his government alone shouldered the burden of keeping the country afloat, and expressing the hope that "there should have been a more ecumenical approach to the crisis," we cannot help but think of the selfishness of Greek politicians who, while in opposition, put private and party interests before those of the country.

In his interview on the "Istories" program, Papandreou said that he had asked then conservative opposition leader Antonis Samaras to back the first bailout agreement with the country's foreign lenders in order to ensure a 180-strong majority in Parliament. The New Democracy chief rejected the request. Papandreou said that, as the country stood on the verge of bankruptcy, and under huge pressure from financial markets, "what was needed at that moment, if the main...