Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis gave a sharp response to SYRIZA’s criticism of the government’s campaign against school violence.

In particular, Mr. Marinakis states that “in such a serious social issue, we expected to be all on the same page. Instead some reappeared, inferior to the circumstances.’

“It is not the first time that SYRIZA avoids standing behind a national line for a social problem that spreads horizontally. And we’re afraid it won’t be the last,” he adds in the same statement.

The announcement of the government representative in detail:

The Government yesterday presented a comprehensive initiative against school violence. A campaign that wants to break fear and holistically face a phenomenon that worries us all. A project of national scope and importance, addressed to children, to parents, to teachers and asks them not to be afraid, to speak up, to report incidents of bullying. It creates a specific platform where complaints can be made and a protocol for dealing with teachers, psychologists and social workers. It establishes a New School Regulation, inaugurates programs that cultivate empathy, while in serious violations it tightens disciplinary measures.

So on such a serious social issue, we expected everyone to be on the same page. Instead some reappeared, inferior to the circumstances.

We saw, for example, the Secretary of the SYRIZA Parliamentary Group, Theodora Tzakri, connecting intra-school violence with the tragedy of Tempe.

We also heard SYRIZA MEP candidate Giorgos Tsipras questioning himself: “If my child breaks three windows and two desks, is it right that I, the parent, have to pay for it?” and to request that “the Greek society and the state” cover the damages.

We would ask SYRIZA if it agrees with the views of its executives. But we already got the answer yesterday, when he argued that the national campaign against school violence “promotes tougher sentences with a punitive bent as the solution”.

It is not the first time that SYRIZA avoids being lined up behind a national line for a social problem that spreads horizontally. And we’re afraid it won’t be the last.