Corruption and clientele relations are rife in Greece despite the fiscal crisis, according to Financial Times columnist Tony Barber.

Barber emphasizes that even though the crisis has combated the Hellenic “pathologies” like kickbacks in the public sector, it has not managed to eliminate them. at the same time, in the private sector, rich businessmen have not taken any steps to help their country stand on its own feet, leaving the middle and lower classes to bear the whole weight.

In this light, it is not of great importance who will win in the next electoral elections between New Democracy and SYRIZA but how much the mentality of politicians has changed as well as how citizens deal with the state. Tony Barber underlines that the “race” that Prime Minister Samaras’ government is undertaking is a matter of “national dignity” as well as an essential political issue that has little to do with the country’s economic problem.