The importance of a low election turnout in Greece

In the Greek daily, Paschos Mandravelis comments on "a bit of a democratic panic" that was provoked by the low turnout in the Athens municipality during Sunday's local authority elections. "Nevertheless a tendency toward abstention is evident in Greece despite the fact that participation is, officially, obligatory. But why the big fuss about low turnout in local authority elections? What is so bad about staying away from the ballot box in view of the more widespread withdrawal from public life of most citizens? Don't get me wrong. Of course the retreat of citizens from public life is not a good thing. But we should not be upset by the symptoms, such as low voter turnout. Compulsory voting comprises an absurd paternalism : the right to vote becomes a duty. But what should really cause concern is the lack of real participation of citizens in public life in general, not just every four years."

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