A
decisive win against the neoliberal dictatorship
by system
failure
The ERT logo
came back yesterday in the Greek TV screens, exactly two years after
the “black” during the coup
of June 11, 2013. It is quite certain that Tsipras
administration made the necessary preparations to re-open ERT on June
11 because they know that symbolism, particularly in such difficult
periods, is very important.
Previous
Samaras administration, being faithful to the neoliberal policies,
tried to create unprecedented conditions towards the gradual
downgrading of public broadcasters in Greece and Europe. They claimed
that they wanted to "clean" ERT from corruption and state
intervention. However, only a few believed them because Samaras
administration actually represented the same party system which was
hiring its people to all public institutions, giving them high
salaries, in previous years. Moreover, Samaras created a supposedly
independent public broadcaster (NERIT) to replace ERT, which soon
became the mouthpiece of government positions.
The media
landscape in Greece during those two years from the "black"
in ERT, was transformed into a propaganda machine, reflecting
lenders' and local oligarchs' (media owners among them) positions.
However, the propaganda was not particularly successful, mainly
because the cruel reality that millions of Greeks had to face, was
totally opposite from the fixed "success stories" of the
then government, and, because of the independent information through
internet.
In the
middle of a class war, the systemic media tried to distort the real
picture and disorientate public opinion. They still try to do it, but
they lose power continuously. The return of ERT will be another
strike against them.
Certainly,
ERT should not become a mouthpiece of government positions like
NERIT. It should become a strong opponent of the neoliberal
dictatorship which still has big power and represents elites'
interests.
In such
economic and class war conditions, public broadcaster should present
the "other side" as a counterweight to the media propaganda
of the oligarchs. This condition should not be received as promotion
of government positions, as many want us to believe already. On the
contrary, this will be a tool of objective information, defending the
interests of the majority.
The
restoration of ERT is a tactical win against the neoliberal
dictatorship. This is a win against a basic element of the Greek
experiment concerning the abolition of the public broadcasters. An
abolition in the name of the supposed objective information by the
private media which in reality only serves private interests.
The return
of people in ERT who never gave up fight after the "black"
on June 11 of 2013, shows that the government is determined to
restore democratic legality, which was abolished two years ago.
However, it is also a signal to the lenders that it will not tolerate
mass layoffs practices. Tsipras'
presence in ERT headquarters yesterday was of high
meaning.
Thus, the
return of ERT has a separate meaning in the war of negotiations
between Greece and the lenders, because it sends multiple messages to
multiple receivers.
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Αγωνιστές σαν τον Λάμπη Ταγματάρχη!!
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