The Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announces measures to support farmers from the Parliament, answering a topical question of the president of the “New Left” Parliamentary Group, Alexis Haritsis. The question is about “the present of Thessaly requires immediate rehabilitation for those affected. The future of Thessaly requires a holistic reconstruction plan.”

“It was not dragged into the government in the Parliament as a result of your question to answer the burning issues from the bad weather Daniel” said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis when he went up to the floor of the Parliament in response to Alexis Haritsis.

This is the third time, he said.

Mr. Mitsotakis referred to the successive disasters that Thessaly has suffered from natural events saying that “we are talking about a situation that was completely unprecedented”
He argued that two are the priorities of the government. Firstly, to support the Thessalians and secondly, to be able to reconstruct in a modern way those infrastructures that were destroyed by the rush of water. As he said this requires time but also money with the budget exceeding 3.3 billion. in a depth of 4 years, while resources that have already exceeded 1 billion euros have been mobilized.

“The objective obstacles are many” said Mr. Mitsotakis and added that the compensations also have their own particularities and may exceed 1 billion euros.
Regarding the government’s aid to farmers to date, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the government has so far granted 148 million to 43,000 farmers and businesses, another 20 million has been given as advances to businesses.
At the same time, 2,999 applications for rent subsidies, half of them have been approved and I am pushing the services to move faster.

Referring to the schools in the areas affected by Daniel, Mr. Mitsotakis said that they will be fully restored by the start of the next school year with a donation from the shipowners.

“They will open in September in better condition than before Daniel’s death,” the prime minister said.

Haritsis: Unfortunately for the citizens, the staff state drowned in the mud

Alexis Haritsis, going up to the floor of the Parliament, said that it seems that “when the opposition puts pressure and the directly interested parties mobilize, then the government appears to respond”. He spoke of the “cry of anguish of the residents” of Thessaly and recalled his visit on January 2 to Thessaly, saying that “unfortunately for the citizens, the staff state drowned in the mud”. He also underlined that “the inadequacy of anti-flood protection of Thessaly that the ND government had promised was proven in the most categorical way.”

According to Mr. Haritsis, the citizens’ anger is justified, but like me, “I fear that we will enter the path of communication management. And the second round of aid of 5,000-10,000 euros I’m afraid will prove to be communication”. What will you do to make the checks go faster and what will be the amount of the compensation? Is the second circle opening to appease the peasants of Thessaly so that you can show such generosity without, however, a countermeasure?” asked Mr. Haritsis.