"I Am the Boss"

Triangles can be as troublesome in politics as they are in romance. Thus, when a triumvirate of more or less equal members took over as Greece's new government after a military coup last April, it was almost inevitable that sooner or later the rule of three would be replaced by the rule of one strong man. Last week most Greeks agreed that Colonel George Papadopoulos, 48, was that man.

At first, Papadopoulos had settled for the relatively unimposing post of Minister to the Premier. Brigadier General Stylianos Pattakos took over the powerful Interior Ministry, and Colonel Nicholas Makarezos assumed control of Greece's economic fate as Minister of Coordination. Once in office, though, Papadopoulos steadily improved his position. Last month he steered through the Cabinet an edict establishing a "general directorate of government policy" that operates under his personal control and gives him veto power over all laws drafted by the various ministers. In addition, he has created his own mini-Cabinet, which supersedes the work of regular ministries in such diverse fields as press censorship, civil service and sports. He has trimmed the power of his junta associates by relieving Pattakos of command of the politically powerful armored forces training center near Athens and putting his own men in key positions as troop commanders and secret police officials.

Papadopoulos' power comes chiefly from the support of a couple of hundred zealous junior army officers, who demand nothing less than total reform of Greek political life. They are already pressing Papadopoulos to move into the so-called "second stage" of the revolution, which calls for sacking the civilian Premier, Constantine Kollias, whom the junta reluctantly installed at the bidding of young King Constantine. Next would come the creation of an all-military Cabinet, with Papadopoulos himself as Premier. As far as Papadopoulos is concerned, the post is already his. In a recent chat with Cypriot President Makarios, he announced bluntly: "I am the boss in Greece."

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