More than forty years have passed since 1981, when PASOK won the election and the people took power. And yet some cannot forget the “glories of the past” and long for PASOK’s best days.

Of course, in the 1980s many people’s pockets were filled with money. Thessaly’s farmers were partying in the “cultural centers” of the Thessalian plain, and small farmers in cafés across the country were drinking a “hard one” or “farmer’s one,” as they had nicknamed whisky.

But as early as 1985, the then governor of the Bank of Greece, Mr. Chalkias, appointed by Andreas, informed Andreas that we were heading toward bankruptcy. And, fortunately, Andreas made the great turn in economic policy.

So where did the money come from, and why did we have a good time? It came from European Union funds, then the EEC, which began flowing into the country, and from borrowing. Public borrowing from 1981 onward began to rise sharply.

Who are the people who long for PASOK? First and foremost, they are the remaining party and trade-union nomenklatura of the once-mighty PASOK. Second, they are those who benefited from PASOK. Those who got loans because they had connections, and those who were or pretended to be green guards and were appointed to the public sector or to socialized enterprises as “civil servants”.

Today there is no PASOK, but rather the Movement for Change. Alongside cadres and voters from the old PASOK, it also includes people from other spaces, Democratic Left, Potami, centrists, unaffiliated, and others. Most of them probably do not want a new PASOK, because they have not forgotten that, despite whatever positives it had, it was responsible for many negatives: from populism to the country’s bankruptcy. And from the loans PASOK owes to the loans owed by the economic dynasties it created.

Today the problems and demands are different. They have nothing to do with 1981. Back then there was also a great charismatic figure, Andreas Papandreou, who stirred the crowds with every word he spoke. Certainly, he was a great populist who enjoyed power, but that is another matter.

Therefore, those who dream of PASOK’s resurrection will probably remain with their dreams. Unless they are dreaming of a small party of around 7-8%, which will satisfy itself because it remains the third party.

The country needs a centre-left party with resonance in society, so that it can become the official opposition and, in the future, government. Such a party is not built with PASOK grandfathers. It needs young people with new ideas, who have nothing to do with the 1980s. Today’s young people have seen Andreas Papandreou only in photographs. And of course, it is one thing to see Andreas in a photo and another to see him live at an election rally.

Some will say that the centre-left road is difficult. In addition, it is also contested by SYRIZA. Exactly so. But who will win this space? The one who, through words and deeds, proves its centre-left, social-democratic character.

SYRIZA, even if it wants to and tries, cannot conquer this space, because it is bound by 3.6%. Because this space has nothing to do with vandals, with far-left offshoots, with friends of terrorism, and the like.

The real path of the centre-left is difficult, but difficulty brings experience and results. It brings a modern, social-democratic centre-left that responds to the messages of the times and cares about the individual and society.

If the right gives priority to the individual, the left gives priority to society. Social democracy is called upon to find the point of balance between the individual and society.

Regardless of the point of balance between the individual and society, the aim in theory and in practice is for the individual to care about society and for society to care about the individual.

Pavlos Marantos

marantosp@gmail.com