By Dora Antoniou

The issue of ELTA is proving to be extremely demanding in its management, as the government is faced with a barrage of reactions from local communities, self-governing bodies, the opposition and also ND MPs, who started submitting questions and reports on the issue, transferring the pressure they receive from the voters. The sudden announcement of the closure of 204 branches from Monday is causing great disturbance, especially in areas of the region where the operation of the local branch also has a social dimension.

The reactions of ND MPs to the surprise of the government is the new “headache” called to manage the Maximos Palace, as the issue causes a new internal mini-crisis. Overall six government MPs have until yesterday individually filed topical questions and petitions to close branches in their regions, conveying the pressure they are receiving from local communities. THE Vassilis Oikonomou for Eastern Attica, the deputies of Cyclades Katerina Monogyou and Markos Kafouros for branches on islands in the region, o Neocles Cretan for branches in Laconia, o Yiannis Giorgos for regions of Halkidiki and Dionysia Avgerinopoulou for Western Greece. The Stelios Petsas and Athanasios Kavvadas speaking to the Economic Affairs Committee they conveyed the complaints and protests they receive.

From the government they are talking about “difficult decisions” to be taken and they are talking about a debate which they say started from the days of the previous government. They also refer to the ELTA announcement, according to which, “No Greek will be left without a postman and no island without a shop. Special care for pensioners and residents of remote areas with modern means and a dense network of distributors

No ELTA employee loses his position, the Catholic Postal Service is fully secured – The reorganization of the network, a necessary step for the sustainability of the Hellenic Post Office

Special care is given to pensioners and residents of remote areas, who will continue to be served with the physical presence of a postman, just like today.”

However, these assurances do not seem to be convincing. Not only the local communities, who are protesting, but also the government MPs, who are reacting and raising the issue with the government officials handling the case.

The reactions extend across the political spectrum and the joint meeting of the Committees on Economic Affairs and Production and Trade, which was decided to take place on Tuesday, is expected to develop in high tones. At the same time, it is not excluded that the reactions will escalate within the parliamentary group of the ruling party.