The government representative, Pavlos Marinakis, accused PASOK of sterile opposition, commenting on the decision not to vote on the bill for the establishment of non-state universities while he mentioned that Mr. Androulakis is the most characteristic example of a representative of the most genuine anachronism as he remains progressive only in words.

“It is the most typical case that someone, because he does not want something, is looking to find one after the other the most serious excuses not to vote for an emblematic bill” said Mr. Marinakis.

He also said that those which Mr. Androulakis invokes are all foreseen.

“‘Another proof that PASOK does not want to be a reliable and serious opposition for the country, an alternative to the progressive space but it is one of the same, an amalgamation of the pathogenesis of everything we experienced in the previous years. A sterile opposition that unfortunately persists. In a bill that is not yet in its final form, he does not try to bring his proposals to make the important reform together, but a priori says he will vote against it,” he said.

“It’s sad, it’s a missed opportunity for the country to have a serious opposition that will unite with the citizens for big changes,” he added.

Regarding the evening surgeries, the government spokesman said that “afternoon surgeries is a government initiative that should have been undertaken many years earlier and it is an initiative that is fully organised, planned and will benefit the citizens, the patients. It will strengthen public hospitals, it has very strict barriers for its operation and for the protection of patients and morning surgeries”.

“It is obvious that in the application it will be proven that this plan is functional, all the measures foreseen by the ministry have been taken so that they can work. Everyone wins, patients who have been waiting for years to be operated on, through a program from the Recovery Fund without their own participation without payment, those who want to be operated on in the morning surgeries will be operated on earlier,” he added.

Of course, in this way the doctors and nurses will have a higher income, because one of the main reasons for the understaffing of hospitals is because the NHS is not so attractive for a new scientist. It is an effective way to solve this issue. It is an initiative that we believe will pay off. Obviously, it will be proven in practice and a lot of effort is needed”, emphasized the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and government representative Pavlos Marinakis, responding to complaints about the lack of staff to implement the operation of the afternoon surgeries.

Mr. Marinakis said that there will be a next meeting on the issues of Thessaly with representatives of the primary sector from the region.

Asked to comment on the protests, the government spokesman said that the government is not going to close its ears and eyes to the demands of citizens and professional groups, adding “in the marches, we respond to demands with actions and actions show respect”.

Finally on the bill to change the criminal codes he said that it is a crucial reform and the third biggest change of the criminal codes. “It has a holistic approach to many things and one part of it is the stricting of penalties in a fair way” he noted, emphasizing that the goal is to act as a deterrent, to let people know that actions have consequences.