Reuters
November 8, 2011
In Italy, Eastern Europe and elsewhere, technocratic governments like the one expected to take the reins in Greece have a relatively good record at pushing through reforms seen as tough but necessary.
But, experts say, former bureaucrats and policy specialists-turned-rulers have the greatest chance of success when there is national consensus, however reluctant, on what needs to be done. There is relatively little sign of this in Greece at present.
Greek politicians look set to choose former European Central Bank deputy head Lucan Papademos to replace Prime Minister George Papandreou at the head of a unity government.
He would inherit the thankless task of pushing through the harsh measures required as conditions of Greece's latest bailout, further cutting spending, privatizing and firing public sector workers.
Any new prime minister will still have to work within a deeply dysfunctional political system only months from elections, amid growing popular unrest and anger.
"This is only a short term fix for Greece," wrote Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy Eurasia Group.
"The new unity government has a temporary mandate, with early elections coming in February or March. The longer-term capacity of an eventual coalition government to adhere to fiscal austerity mandated by the European institutions and core European states is low indeed.
"And, as always, the Greek notion of timeline remains very different from that of the core European states."
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