Greek politicians distort statistics

Greece is said to have falsified its deficit figures for 2009 under former prime minister Giorgos Papandreou, so as to remain eligible for aid from the euro bailout mechanism. The financial prosecutor Grigoris Peponis has filed charges against former leader Papandreou and ex-finance minister Giorgos Papakonstantinou with parliament. The conservative business paper Naftemporiki regrets the falsifications, which it says could seriously harm the country's credibility. "The word statistic comes from the Latin 'status', which refers to the state. When this science was established it focused on gathering data required by the state. In addition, this science registered other data, such as for instance surface area, population, productivity and other relevant figures, which those in power absolutely needed to know. ... Now Greece's politicians have been able to distort mathematical principles and discredit the country. Theory says, by the way, that no state can exist without correct and reliable data on the basis of which prognoses can be developed and rational decisions taken. Unfortunately we've known that for a long time."

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