With an apology to the suffering citizens he began his speech at cabinet the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
He acknowledged that there were “failures” and “shortcomings that need to be rectified” and said he was continuing to support the creation of a new Ministry of Climate Change.
“I will continue to support this choice, further strengthening its structures and capabilities. “And making sure that the operation of the Ministry becomes more efficient with the better cooperation of all other Ministries”, he also stressed, saying that the government has shown that it has the courage to recognize its mistakes and to learn from them.
For Attiki Odos, he stressed that the responsibilities of the concessionaire are very clear and will be investigated, while he also referred to the 2,000 euros that will be given directly to the drivers who were tested for hours on the highway.
He added that compensation There will also be for those who traveled with TRAINOSE and suffered unjustly.
“But problems, let’s be honest, did not exist only on Attiki Odos. There were also on main roads of the basin. “It is clear that things did not go well there either and we must examine the causes that led to this situation and adjust our plans,” he stressed.
Mr. Mitsotakis thanked all the executives of the state but also of the Armed Forces who made superhuman efforts to free drivers, our health workers and the rescuers of EKAB, as despite the unprecedented snowfall there were no malfunctions in the health system. ΔΕΔΔΗΕ for their own endeavor.
“Every tree that cuts a line of medium voltage is a separate challenge, especially when these people have to contend with half a meter of snow. And for the few areas that do not yet have electricity, I ask for the patience and understanding of the citizens. “I think that in this field we took the lessons of” Medea “and we managed and restored the electricity supply in a much shorter period of time”, he noted.
I ask for a personal and sincere apology from our fellow citizens who suffered for hours, being trapped on Attiki Odos. We had unprecedented snowfall, but I’re not going to use that as an excuse. There have been failures and inadequacies that need to be corrected. pic.twitter.com/Z8WEXOIRfQ
—Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) January 26, 2022
Mr. Mitsotakis admitted that the state mechanism is not yet at the ready point which require phenomena of such great intensity and this primarily concerns the coordination between the involved: state, Local Government, Region, Municipalities and individuals.
“It is clear and if we must learn a lesson from the unsuccessful management of this snowstorm is the fact that in times of crisis the centers, the heads of all these structures, must be together, decide and act immediately together.”, he said.
He announced changes so that there are crisis management committees that will bring all those involved with very clear and unambiguous protocols in the same area, “so that there are no phenomena of misunderstanding, delays in decision-making, and sometimes disclaimer of responsibility.”
The entire position of the Prime Minister
Good morning. I want to start by asking a personal and sincere apology by our fellow citizens who suffered for many hours, remaining trapped on Attiki Odos.
There are very clear responsibilities to the concessionaire for the way she dealt with the latter blizzard. These will be fully investigated based on the existing legislation, but also the terms included in the relevant contracts with the State.
Private entities that manage, not with negligible profit, critical infrastructure, have obligations. First, to be able to keep their path of responsibility open. This happened on the National Road Athens – Lamia. Unfortunately, however, it did not take place on Attiki Odos. That is why the decision to give 2,000 euros immediately to the drivers who were tested there. And, as announced by the Minister of Infrastructure, there will be compensation for those who traveled with TRAINOSE and suffered unjustly.
I note that this is the first time that the state is activated to alleviate our fellow citizens who have been harmed by this process. And I also remind you that by law of this government, the provision of compensation has been added to the concession contracts – I emphasize this – regardless of any private claims that may arise or the actions that the State will take in this matter.
But problems, let’s be honest, did not exist only on Attiki Odos. There were also on main roads of the basin. It is clear that things did not go well there either and we need to look at the causes that led to this situation and adjust our plans.
A big thank you goes to all the executives of the state but also to the Armed Forces who made superhuman efforts to free drivers, not to risk their lives. It was a titanic endeavor in extremely adverse conditions.
I would also like to thank our health workers, the rescuers of EKAB, as despite the unprecedented snowfall, there were no malfunctions in the health system.
I would also like to thank the employees of HEDNO for their effort. Each tree that cuts a medium voltage line is a separate challenge, especially when these people have to contend with half a meter of snow. And for the few areas that do not yet have electricity, I ask for the patience and understanding of the citizens. I think that in this field we took the lessons of “Medea” and we managed and restored the electricity supply in a much shorter period of time.
It is true that the infrastructure of a Mediterranean country is not always adapted to conditions of heavy snowfall. Although everywhere in the world a lot of snow brings big problems.
It is equally true, however, that the state mechanism is not yet at the point of readiness that requires phenomena of such great intensity. And this primarily concerns the coordination between the involved: state, Local Government, Region, Municipalities and individuals.
It is clear and if we must learn a lesson from the unsuccessful management of this snowstorm is the fact that in times of crisis the centers, the heads of all these structures, must be together, decide and act immediately together.
And changes in this direction will follow immediately so that we have crisis management committees that will bring all those involved with very clear and unambiguous protocols in the same area, so that there is no phenomenon of misunderstanding, delays in decision making, and sometimes disclaimer.
Indeed, in 30 months it is difficult to solve problems of decades and much more when combined with successive and simultaneous challenges on many different fronts.
But, I will say it again, we have set the bar of expectations high and the comparison can not be made with the weaknesses of yesterday, it is done with the needs of today. I always understand the reasons. Yeah Al that sounds pretty crap to me, Looks like BT aint for me either.
There have been failures and inadequacies that need to be corrected. And for all these reasons we created the new Ministry of Climate Crisis. I will continue to support this choice, further strengthening its structures and capabilities. And ensuring that the operation of the Ministry becomes more efficient with the better cooperation of all other Ministries.
We have shown that we have the courage to acknowledge our mistakes and the willingness to learn from them and become better.
So we teach and we move on.
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