The art of hanging up the phone

The legendary incidental with celebrated Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis is mentioned by singer-songwriter Dionysis Savvopoulos successful his autobiography: In 1979, Hadjidakis, arsenic manager of the acclaimed Third Program – the nationalist vigor station of Greece’s state broadcaster ERT, which chiefly broadcasts classical euphony and civilization – is playing Savvopoulos’ caller 15-minute τραγούδι titled “A Long Zeibekiko for Nikos,” which had been censored, each day. The phones astatine the vigor station are ringing disconnected the hook, with associates of the then curate Athanasios Tsaldaris asking the station to stop playing it. Hadjidakis is unmoved. Eventually, the curate himself calls. Hatzidakis listened to him “sullen, gloomy and without uttering a word.” At 1 constituent helium asked the curate if helium was finished. And when Tsaldaris said “Yes,” Hadjidakis responded: “Minister, you are an idiot!” And helium conscionable hung up the phone.

In the monolithic workplace subsidy ungraded – known successful Greece arsenic the OPEKEPE scandal, from the acronym of the bureau embroiled successful the fraud – with the fig of lawmakers from the ruling New Democracy enactment named successful the probe increasing, it becomes evident that clientelism played a cardinal role. There are dozens of telephone calls to and fro, with dialogues repeated implicit time, for the “arrangement” of requests from constituents. “He is simply a person of G…, 100% his man,” 1 said. Another said, “S.. will beryllium utile to us, you should look into his issue.” Even OPEKEPE’s physics system was bypassed to “do manually” whatever was required. The “arrangements” and favors were nonstop. And if immoderate “link” successful the concatenation reacted by invoking legality, helium was either forced to travel to his senses oregon was sidelined.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office’s caller lawsuit files are highly incriminating for the individuals involved, and forced a authorities reshuffle.

The notation to Hadjidakis is not made to provoke often repeated comments astir the stature and bravery of a unique man, but for this small cardinal operation astatine the extremity of that story: “He conscionable hung up the phone.” When the subordinate is near unprotected and unsocial but calm with his conscience that helium did the close thing, which state mechanics is connected his side? Why is the system of illegality, of “our ain people,” the “useful” and the “cronies,” so well protected, while those who garbage to obey orders that are evidently amerciable stay exposed? And where does this system deduce the certainty that illegality and the distortion of world will stay invisible and unpunished?

No substance however galore reforms are made, nary substance however galore MP immunities are lifted, clientelism will proceed to exist, to various degrees, depending connected the times. “Hanging up the phone” will bespeak the limits and mentalities, not lone of politicians but besides of institutions.