Written by Veroniki Krikoni
This article is part of our special coverage “Europe in Crisis“.
In Greece, January 6 is the national holiday of Theophany, traditionally known as Phota (”lights”). Customs revolve around the Great Blessing of the Waters: a cross is thrown into the water and people try to retrieve it in order to receive good luck and blessings. Every year, government and civic officials attend the celebrations, after which they have an opportunity to make official statements on the spiritual importance of the day, along with political and social comments.
However, due to the economical, political and social crisis Greece is going through, this year’s celebrations were marked by strong expressions of people’s disapproval and criticism of politicians. This came as no surprise, as it happened earlier during the national celebrations of “Ochi” day on October 28, when President Karolos Papouliaswas forced to leave after protesters called him a traitor.
Chalkida, Evia
It happened again this time, when President Papoulias appeared at Chalkida, despite the tradition of going to Piraeus, the country’s major port. Citizens booed him, calling him a traitor and shouting anti-austerity slogans, as the following video [Greek] shows:
http://youtu.be/eOKy1muDuEc
A small group tried to reach the dignitaries’ podium, but were blocked by the police. The president departed making no official statement.
Chalkida’s police arrested 6 citizens, 3 men and 3 women, and a file was submitted accusing them of “insulting the President of the Republic’s honor”. The city prosecutor ordered their release.
Netizens commented both on the jeering of Papoulias and the demonstrators’ arrest, with a large majority in favor of the arrested and against the major public figure’s behavior and inaction concerning the current crisis:
NO IMPORTANT PERSON IS HE. THEY DID WELL.
: Ο Κάρολος ΠαποÏλιας πρÎπει να ‘χει κάνει ασφαλιστικά μÎτρα εναντίον ÏŒλων των πολιτÏŽν. Αν παραβιάσεις την ακτίνα 50μ. συλλαμβάνεσαι.
Translation:
Karolos Papoulias must probably have requested an injunction against all citizens. If you approach within a 50m radius, you are under arrest.
Sonia Andrianou: ΑπÏŒ πÏŒτε διÏŽκεται ρε παιδιά η ελευθερία του λÏŒγου και της Îκφρασης; Γιατί το άρθρο δε λÎει να τον αποδοκίμασαν με τπτ αντικείμενα ή να τον πείραξαν σωματικά! Θα τρελλαθοÏμε εντελÏŽς…
Translation:
Since when is freedom of speech and expression under prosecution? Because the article doesn’t mention that they [the arrested citizens] booed him by throwing objects or physically assaulting him! We will totally lose our mind…
A different view was held by a small minority:
miri: Μα τι Îφταιξε ο ΠρÏŒεδρος της Δημοκρατίας;
Translation:But what’s the President of the Republic’s fault?
user Under: Οχι οτι εχω καμια διαθεση να υπερασπιστω τον Παπουλια τον οποιο τον θεωρουσα προδοτη πολυ πριν το ξεσπασμα της κρισης αλλα απο την αλλη παραγινεται γραφικο να δινεται εμφαση σε καποια περιστατικα αποδοκιμασιων. Μαζευονται 5 γραφικοι “αγανακτισμενοι” και αποδοκιμαζουν και αυτο γινεται θεμα.[…] Λιγη σοβαροτητα δεν βλαπτει.
Translation:
I’m not in the mood to defend Papoulias, whom I considered to be a traitor long before the crisis outburst, but on the other hand, it gets too “picturesque”, to emphasize some jeering incidents. Five bizarre “indignados” gather and protest and that becomes a major issue. […] A bit of seriousness is not harmful to anyone.
Kitsos stresses that nobody can impose respect on people:
Kitsos (07/01, 10:36): Τον σεβασμÏŒ τον εμπνÎεις ! Άμα χάσεις τον σεβασμÏŒ του κÏŒσμου δεν τον επιβάλεις οÏτε με χίλιους στρατοÏς. Κάτι ήξεραν οι παλιοί ηγÎτες που Îλεγαν “ισχÏς μου η αγάπη του λαοÏ μου
Translation: Respect is inspired! If you lose people’s respect, you cannot impose it, even with an army of a thousand. Old leaders knew this, these were the ones that said, “My strength is my people’s love.”
Source: Global Voices