“Since the morning we have been on their side firefighters. We met at Evangelismos and visited the wounded. We were at their meeting and, of course, we had a detailed discussion here in the Parliament with their union”, noted the president of the SYRIZA KO, Nikos Pappasin his statement in the peristyle of the Parliament.

“We want to underline two things, apart from what we have already said in the public debate. First: We find it inconceivable that the injured firefighters, who are currently being treated at Evangelismos, should be arrested after the unprovoked and highly dangerous choice to be beaten and even chemically treated in an enclosed space. Second: Their request is self-explanatory. Their work rehabilitation is not only about them. It’s about society. These people work and risk their integrity, even their lives, so that we can all be safe,” he stressed.

He added, in fact, that “the time has come, at least the progressive parties, and I’m talking about PASOK, KKE, the New Left and Freedom Movement, to submit a joint legislative proposal for their job rehabilitation. Now is the time to escalate the pressure on the government so that the obvious solution is given.”

Already, the competent department heads of Labor and Civil Protection of K.O. of SYRIZA-PS, G. Gavrilos and S. Kedikoglou, respectively, communicate with the relevant heads of PASOK, KKE, Plefsis Eleftherias and New Left.

In his own statement, G. Gavrilos called on the government “to proceed immediately with a legislative initiative to restore the labor relations of seasonal firefighters”. For his part, S. Kedikoglou noted that “we immediately ask for an explanation for yesterday’s extreme and unjustified use of force. Who gave the order and why?”

Earlier, a delegation of the KO of the official opposition party, consisting of the chairman of the KO Nikos Pappas and the MPs Giorgos Gavrilos, Christos Giannoulis, Dionysis Kalamatianos, Giorgos Karameros, Symeon Kedikoglou, Giorgos Psychogios, Marina Kontotoli, Popi Tsapanidou and Andreas Panagiotopoulos, was found alongside the thousands of seasonal firefighters, who staged a protest rally in Syntagma Square. There, addressing the gathered, Nikos Pappas said:

“We come from Evangelism. There we met your injured colleagues. Your first colleague was from Amaliada and he showed me a photo on his mobile phone of his child, who is three or four years old. And there I thought that you are not just fighting for your own bread. You are making a fight for all of us. For them to be well, for our children to be safe. And for that we are grateful to you. And the success of your movement will be judged by how much society perceives that you are not just fighting for your own right. You are defending society. Your second colleague I met is from Corinth. And luck has brought it this way, that he has worked and risked his bodily integrity and his life, to protect my own house in Corinth. What other proof does one need to have in front of him to understand that you are fighting for our own protection and our own security? And for this reason it is the duty of every democratic citizen to be on your side. And a self-evident obligation of all political parties. And you have to deserve it. And whoever does not open his door to see and hear you, let the Greek people know so that they can judge their decision when the time comes. We will be by your side today and tomorrow and every day. Be well, be strong.”

This was followed by a meeting of the delegation of the Panhellenic Association of Contract Firefighters (PASSYP) and the Association of Seasonal Firefighters of Greece (SEPE) with a delegation of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance in the Parliament, at the office of the president of the official opposition.

Earlier in the morning, the president of the party’s organization visited, together with the head of the health department of the organization Andreas Panagiotopoulos, the seasonal firefighters who are being treated at the “Evangelismos” Hospital after yesterday’s brutal attack by the MAT against them. They were informed about their health status and wished them a speedy recovery. They were joined by Fotini Karystinaki, member of the Board of the “Evangelismos” Hospital and K.E. of the party, Eleni Keimali, deputy coordinator of the Health department and member of the K.E. and Giorgos Karkalioris, nurse, head of TEP and coordinator of O.M. “Evangelism”.