The government representative, Pavlos Marinakis, commented on yesterday’s incidents at the Ministry of Civil Protection.
He spoke of “provocations by a small portion of seasonal firefighters with clear political motives.”
As the police said they were “forced to apply the law” because a small portion of the seasonal firefighters broke down doors and started swearing at the prime minister. “It may not have been an incitement from the beginning but the rebels took advantage of some people’s anger for no reason,” he said.
Pavlos Marinakis: The law was violated
The government spokesman said that “they are certainly images that no one wants to see, but because people need to hear the reality, I will not hide my words. First of all I want to separate the vast majority, who went and submitted some specific requests, met with the Fire Chief and Deputy Minister Mr. Tournas, and made an appointment with Minister Vassilis Kikilia on Wednesday, and a small portion of them stayed there, i.e. not even 1/5, with clear political motives since we also saw the president of the party there, Ms. Konstantopoulou. They completely changed the tactics of the protest which was peaceful and clear, they started breaking doors and swearing with slogans known against the prime minister, that is breaking the law and the police were forced to implement the law.”
He then said: “It was a clear provocation” and stressed “it may not have been an incitement from the beginning but the revolutionaries took advantage of some people’s anger for no reason”.
“It is not possible to make someone permanent with a ministerial decision”
He then said that the number of firefighters has increased since 2019 and that they will be given priority in competitions and recruitment. “In 2019, Greece had 13,100 firefighters, now it has 14,700 and with the recruitment of 2025, it will go to 15,000, the goal is to reach 26,000. The seasonal firefighters we are referring to are based on Presidential Decree Law 19, under SYRIZA and provided for 6-month contracts for 5 years. This 5-year period ends and a new competition is announced in which those with previous service will obviously have an increased number of points, it is something they are asking for, and rightly so, and it will be granted as a request. At the same time, in all the competitions and recruitments they have given for forest commanders with permanent characteristics, the seasonal firefighters have an increased rating”.
As he announced, “Permanentizing someone with a ministerial decision is not possible.” Regarding the salary, he said that “there is no doubt that these people should be paid better, for this reason the government has been giving everything it can for the last few years. We have never said wages have reached where we want. We have a program that we want to give back more to firefighters, doctors, etc.”
“The police are thoroughly investigating the explosion in the apartment in Ampelokipi”
Regarding the incident with the explosion in an apartment in Ampelokipis, Mr. Marinakis emphasized that “the police are thoroughly investigating it, there are various facts that are coming to the public, it is not good to say anything before the official announcements, the main thing is that it will take the dimension which he will get when the police are sure what exactly it is about”
“We do not comment on court decisions”
Regarding the wiretapping case and the new information that came to light, Mr. Marinakis underlined, according to iefimerida, that “this case has been thoroughly analyzed both out of court and judicially, a first decision has been made for some specific persons. Justice spoke, placed, ruled. We do not comment on court decisions and it is good that all political parties learn to respect its decisions, whether they like it or not.”
“It’s hypocritical to mess with the Ombudsman”
Finally, regarding the political confrontation with the Ombudsman, the government representative described the situation as hypocritical and stated? “conflicting the investigation into the Pylos wreck with something that has been said before the investigation has begun is hypocritical to say the least” and he added “anyone who says that the election of a distinguished scientist as the new Citizen’s Advocate can jeopardize an investigation into a wreck, it implies that a man like Mr. Sotiropoulos is going to cover something up, which harkens back to times we want to leave behind and the rhetoric of extreme parties. It is a shame that it is being reproduced as rhetoric, and since SYRIZA we are used to formulating rhetoric that does not resemble the rhetoric of a rational party, but PASOK is also saying it?”
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#Provocations #small #group #VIDEO
**Interview with Pavlos Marinakis, Government Spokesman on Greece’s Wildfires and Recent Protests**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Marinakis. We’ve seen alarming news about the wildfires in Greece, described as Europe’s deadliest this summer. Can you provide an update on the situation?
**Pavlos Marinakis:** Thank you for having me. The situation remains critical; we are in the midst of fighting megafires that have affected various regions over the past weeks. Our firefighters are working tirelessly, and the government is mobilizing all available resources to combat these flames and protect our communities.
**Interviewer:** There have been reports of tensions between seasonal firefighters and the government leading to protests. What can you tell us about these incidents?
**Pavlos Marinakis:** Unfortunately, what we witnessed recently was a breakdown in the peaceful nature of the protests. While the vast majority of firefighters expressed their concerns respectfully, a small faction—less than one-fifth of those present—resorted to violence. They engaged in actions that include breaking down doors and using offensive language against the Prime Minister. Such behavior is unacceptable and a clear violation of the law.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that political motives might have influenced this small group’s actions. Can you elaborate on that?
**Pavlos Marinakis:** Yes, we believe certain individuals within that group aimed to exploit the underlying frustrations of their fellow firefighters for political ends. It’s crucial to understand that the main requests of these firefighters are being taken seriously, and discussions are ongoing. The actions of this small group did not reflect the intentions of most participants.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of the requests from seasonal firefighters, what is the government doing to address their concerns regarding job security and pay?
**Pavlos Marinakis:** Since 2019, we have increased the total number of firefighters from 13,100 to 14,700, with plans to reach 26,000 by 2025. We have a clear recruitment strategy that prioritizes those with previous seasonal contracts. However, it’s important to note that permanent positions cannot be granted through ministerial decisions; these must follow the proper competition processes. As for salaries, we recognize that they need improvement and continue to work on plans to increase compensation.
**Interviewer:** Switching gears, what can you tell us about the recent explosion in Ampelokipis?
**Pavlos Marinakis:** The police are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. We have various facts emerging, but it’s premature to draw conclusions. We will ensure that all necessary information is disclosed once the investigation has concluded.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, regarding the wiretapping case, what’s the government’s stance on the ongoing concerns about this issue?
**Pavlos Marinakis:** This case has been examined extensively, both in court and outside of it. We will refrain from commenting further until official announcements are made, as it’s important to respect the ongoing legal processes.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Mr. Marinakis. We hope for a swift resolution to both the wildfires and the issues involving the firefighters.
**Pavlos Marinakis:** Thank you. We appreciate the support and understanding from the public during these challenging times.
