“Security is a good to which each citizen individually has a right, and naturally the state has a duty to provide it,” the prime minister said yesterday in Fyli, at the inauguration of the new building of the Sub-Directorate of Security of Western Attica. It is important that, albeit belatedly, Mr. Tsipras accepted that a sense of security is a vital element of a democratic society.
Experience during Syriza’s time in power has proven that securing calm and protecting citizens and public places was not one of its top priorities.
In downtrodden areas security problem may have been greater, but one cannot say that the situation was much better in the city centre.
When several shops are smashed on Athens’ most central commercial street, with police as onlookers, it is obvious that there is a problem of lawlessness, and of the security of citizens and businesses, not to mention universities, where all manner of club-wielding individuals do as they please. Then there is the forbidden zone of Exarheia, with daily clashes of lawless elements with police, but no results.
Unfortunately, in Greece, respect for law and order is considered to violate the democratic rights of all sorts of groups and organisations, and their branches.
The security of citizens in not just about dealing with organised crime, which is a problem, but it is also about the violence and lawlessness that exist in Greek society.
Whether we like it or not, in our era, guaranteeing a sense of security is a basic priority, both in cities and in small communities.
Security is not left-wing or right-wing, but rather a universal social good, which the state has a duty and responsibility to protect.
That the prime minister recognises this is positive, to the degree that it will lead to action, and is not yet another diversionary tactic to transcend the current confluence of events, which is problematic for the government.
