Sep. 2, 2024
Angry citizens jeered and strongly disapproved Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday, while he was touring areas in the flood-stricken Thessaly almost a year after storm Daniel devastated villages and agricultural production.
The Prime Minister who visited the area to announced anti-flooding measures in the infrastructure and “inspect” the restored Health Center, turned down a request by residents of Palamas to have a meeting with their major representatives.
Their reaction was booing and condemnation, local media reported, pointing out to the strong police forces who had built a ‘barrier’ around the prime minister.
Instead of speaking with the flood victims, he chose to move in a completely protected and friendly environment, visiting the renovated Health Center of the area, in the presence of strong police and riot police forces,” noted daily efsyn.gr
At a distance of a few tens of meters, hundreds of citizens who participated in the pre-announced protest rally had gathered.
“If you are the prime minister of all of Greece, come and talk to these people. Come talk to us” was heard from the enraged citizens. “We have no life, no income, shame. This is Mitsotakis’ democracy” a citizen was heard shouting.
Residents of another destroyed village, the Vlohos, set up banners demanding relocation and compensations.
The PM preferred to advertise the contribution of donors to the reconstruction of the Health Center.
PM Mitsotakis was accompanied by Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, as well as other government officials and several MPs.
The president of the Health Center doctors, Ejtoras Gazos, spoke of a “mockery fiesta” set up by the government.
“The ministers, deputy ministers and MPs who are in the H.C, of Palamas, outnumber the staff who work permanently there. If all of them had come during the flood, the Health Center would have been restored in time,” Gazos stressed.
Ιn the village of Farkanona, Mitsotakis spoke with local authorities about a wider [future!] plan for the reconstruction of Thessaly, which foresees expenses and investments of 3 billion euros.
At the same time, an overview was made of the most targeted state aid measures, which include the payment of first aid amounting to 182.7 million euros to more than 50,500 beneficiaries, the allocation of 237.7 million euros to Local Government Organizations and the special business support scheme specifically for Municipalities Palamas and Farkadonas.
Residents of Thessaly are remain reserved cautious about the promises they hear from government’s lips and so are residents of Magnesia prefecture with main infrastructure damages including roads to haven’t been fixed a year later.
Locals fear the upcoming winter as anti-flooding measures have not been initiated yet, while compensations are late and not enough.
Who can blame them?
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