"Μη σας ξεγελάει το λουκ του Χοντρού - Λιγνού (Laurel and Hardy). Ο πρωθυπουργός Γιώργος Παπανδρέου και ο νέος Υπουργός Οικονομικών του μοιάζουν με αταίριαστο ζευγάρι αλλά είναι τελείως αποφασισμένοι να αποφύγουν την αποτυχία της Ελλάδας στο να πληρώσει τα χρέη της."

Έτσι ξεκινάει το άρθρο του πρακτορείου Reuters... Να ένα μικρό απόσπασμά του, στο πρωτότυπο. [Περιλαμβάνει και λίγο Νίκου Δήμου!]

Greece's odd couple is serious about averting default

ATHENS (Reuters) - Don't let the Laurel and Hardy image fool you. Prime Minister George Papandreou and his new Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos may look an odd couple but they are dead serious about averting default on Greece's debt.

The premier and his new number two are worlds apart in style, experience and skill sets, but they have set aside their differences to rescue Greece from its deepest crisis in decades and keep their socialist party in power.

Papandreou is a soft-spoken, athletic 59-year-old who is comfortable in the corridors of Brussels. Venizelos, 54, is a stocky party stalwart who can easily bully rogue members of parliament.

[...]

"They are an odd couple. They are similar in only one way and that is ambition," said Nikos Dimou, commentator and author of the book "The Misfortune of Being Greek."

Dimou said that even if the 'good-cop, bad-cop' act worked, all socialist MPs were convinced to toe the line and pass the mid-term plan in votes on Wednesday and Thursday, deeper problems remained. Without reforming a dysfunctional state, there was little hope for a long-term solution to Greece's problems.

"Any defections will be minor and Venizelos will be triumphant on Thursday but it will be a Pyrrhic victory," he said. "However well the duet performs, there remains the chaos of the Greek state beneath them."

ΥΓ1. Πόσο μπροστά ήταν αυτός ο Έλληνας γελοιογράφος! Σκίτσο του 2007...

ΥΓ2. Είμαστε η μόνη χώρα όπου το δίδυμο μεταφράστηκε και έγινε γνωστό ως Χοντρός - Λιγνός; Ακούγεται τόσο προσβλητικό σήμερα...