Skertsos on the CoE’s decision on private universities: Political toxicity and extreme polarization have kept our country back for many decades

The Lost Reform Opportunities of the last decades is mentioned by the Minister of State Akis Skrtsoson the occasion of the constitutional registration of the reform to liberate higher education from the state monopoly.

As he notes, this development marks a Historical step for the country’s education systemwhich could have been much earlier if there was political consensus. “What would happen if PASOK had consented to the ND proposal to amend Article 16 of the Constitution, thus offering the necessary majority 18 years ago?” The Minister of State wonders.

At the same time, Mr Skertsos recalls two more critical reform initiatives that have been delayed for decades. The first concerns the insurance system, which, he says, could have been reformed and preserved through broader political and social consensus 24 years ago, protecting retirees, workers and unemployed. The second concerns the personal number of citizen, who would allow each citizen to be identified in the public registers and more effective controls and intersections. As he notes, his implementation was already designed by the government of Konstantinos Mitsotakis in the early 1990s, but was implemented many years later.

“The answer to these questions is that today we would have a much more dynamic and extroverted higher education, better health and insurance services, a more effective, transparent and friendly state. And we were likely to have escaped the national suffering of bankruptcy and the ten -year crisis, “Mr Skertsos said.

As he points out, these untapped opportunities are now a distinct chapter of post -political history that the historian of the future should record “for knowledge, memory and compliance”.

The Minister of State emphasizes that the story is not written in hypothetical scenarios, but with the choices of the present. It thus calls for the utilization of the past courses for the implementation of new self -evident and just changes that will serve the real interests of the country and the citizens.

In closing, he also sends a message to transcend political polarization. “Political toxicity and extreme polarization have kept our country back for many decades. It is time to leave them behind and continue to move steadily, even more bold, only forward, “he concludes.

In detail his post:

“Thoughts after yesterday’s historical constitutional registration of the great reform for the liberation of higher education from the state” monopoly “.

What if PASOK had consent to the ND proposal to amend Article 16 of the Constitution, thereby offering the necessary majority 18 years ago?
What if the insurance system had been reformed and preserved through broader political and social consensus 24 years ago?
What would happen if the personal number of citizen, that is, the possibility of the unique identification of each citizen in the multiple registries of the public and therefore effective crossings, controls and service, had been implemented as originally designed by the government of Konstantinos Mitsotakis in the early 1990s?
The answer to them, and many corresponding questions, is that today we would have a much more dynamic and extroverted higher education. Best health and insurance services for pensioners, workers and unemployed through a more robust insurance system. A more effective, transparent and citizen -friendly state. And we were likely to have escaped the national suffering of bankruptcy and the deep ten -year economic and political crisis.

That is why a distinct chapter of modern post -political history should be dedicated to the history of the future and to the lost opportunities of the Transfiguration. For knowledge, memory and compliance.
However, because history is not written with hypothetical questions and scenarios, let’s focus on the lessons we can and should all get all of these missed opportunities.
And let’s turn the missed opportunities even today into “fuel”, a reformist impulse for even more self -evident and just changes that serve the true interests of our country and its citizens.
Political toxicity and extreme polarization have kept our country back for many decades. It is time to leave them behind and continue to move steadily, even more bold, just ahead. “