The climate crisis is not an alibi for criminal responsibilities at the level of the state and government, said the president of Freedom of Navigation, Zoe Konstantopoulou, in her intervention at the plenary session, shortly after the Minister of Civil Protection and Climate Crisis had referred to the interventions that are underway and those that are launched, in the field of his competence.

Zoe Konstantopoulou brought back the concerns of Freedom of Navigation for the protection of the environment, the protection of people, and political protection. “The climate crisis is a reality, but it cannot be a recurring excuse, which is used to avoid the most serious governmental responsibilities, for decades, for the lack of infrastructure, for the lack of mechanisms, for the lack of human resources and for the stubborn denial of the necessary tools and recruitments for the civil protection that its citizens deserve and deserve,” said the president of Plevsis Eleftherias. He noted that “climate crisis we heard about the crime in Mati and unfortunately the prime minister, in his first appearance at the UN General Assembly in 2019, attributed the crime in Mati and the dead to the climate crisis”. But, as he underlined, the crime in Mati was the result of criminal omissions and criminal responsibilities, at the level of the state, government, local government, police, fire department, at the level of decision-makers.

Mrs. Konstantopoulou pointed out that in 2024, there will be a small increase in civil protection funds, to note that the competent minister cannot be happy for this, nor for the increase of only 900 positions in the Fire Department, when the empty organic seats are 3,500. “Funds should be made available to fill all vacancies and an explanation should be given, why this is not being done when there are 2,500 ready, experienced, tested and valuable seasonal firefighters, waiting to be integrated, as permanent members of the Fire Service “, said the president of Freedom of Navigation and indicated that we cannot hear that we are waiting for a Canadair production line to be established when it is known that there are much more effective aerial means of firefighting. In this climate, he emphasized that answers must also be given as to what happened to the fire-fighting projects and the funds that had been foreseen.

During her intervention, Ms. Konstantopoulou commented that there is a crescendo of populism, xenophobia and addressing racist and xenophobic reflexes, since yesterday.

“We also heard the Minister of Labor. At least ten times he ostentatiously used the term illegal immigrant, a word that has been denounced by rights protection initiatives at the international level,” said Ms. Konstantopoulou and expressed her concern if political protection concerns all people or there are some who do not. “In the summer, 20 foreigners who came to our country for protection were burned in Dadia. We heard the presenter of ERT, who is under the prime minister’s office, mention that fortunately no human lives were lost, except for these poor people. And we heard the prime minister say that the people who were burned had no business being there,” said Ms. Konstantopoulou.

The president of Pleysis Eleftheria, at the beginning of her intervention, described George Michalakopoulos as a “beacon” of culture, theater and democracy.

“He was a great actor, an iconic artistic personality but also a fighter for democracy who resisted, he never stopped setting an example of social interest and participation and his contribution, his work, his artistic creation are our collective and national heritage”, said Zoe Konstantopoulou and welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Culture to make his funeral a public expense.

Mrs. Konstantopoulou mentioned that George Michalakopoulos was a “fraternal friend of her parents” and thus she had known him since her childhood. “His loss is irreplaceable, his presence irreplaceable, but also the legacy that leaves us a valuable and timeless point of reference,” said the president of Plefsis Eleftherias.