By Dora Antoniou

The government invests in the correct and detailed information of all, primarily the residents of remote areas, the self-governing bodies and the MPs of the coalition, in order to calm down the reactions that broke out after the sudden announcement of the decision to close 204 ELTA branches.

The government representative was clear yesterday, however, when he emphasized that “this necessary change will be implemented, but in the right way”. He stated, in fact, that the decision was taken because “money had to be saved, which cannot be found from some “money trees””, but also to make better use of ELTA staff and resources in services where there is a greater need.

The major reactions caused to the closure of the branches appeared to catch the government by surprise. Many more as protests are recorded from a significant number of “blue” MPs, who rushed to convey to the government the pressure they are receiving from the electoral base.

The government believes that there was a mismanagement by the ELTA administration, as the discussion about closing branches is ongoing and has been developing for some time at the administrative level. However, there has been no care to consult with local communities and effectively inform how services that may be deemed not to be covered will be covered once the branches are closed. This gap in information caused reactions and concern in local communities, which escalated and came to be accompanied by reports of movements that reinforce the desolation of the region.

“This was the reason why the ELTA management was asked to implement this decision in two phases, because we considered it unthinkable that society, our parliamentarians, the political system as a whole, the other parties had not been informed” said the government spokesman.

The government is moving in three directions simultaneouslyin order to overcome the new scope caused by ELTA: The first concern is to prevent the perception that there is no concern for the periphery and that the remote areas have been abandoned. To respond to this criticism, government officials deploy as an argument the measures announced at TIF and concern the abolition of ENFIA in remote municipalities, the measures for mountainous areas and insularity, etc.

The second front it concerns government MPs, who rioted and protested. They hope to the government leadership that when the context of the changes is explained, the protests will subside. The reports about “money trees” and the debts of ELTA also concern the specific MPs. “Everyone will understand that this decision was a one-way street” Mr. Marinakis explained yesterday.

The third reaction center they are, of course, the opposition parties. Today they will meet in Parliament the Standing Committees on Economic Affairs and Public Administration, Public Order and Justice. It is assumed that the opposition will move in high tones and put pressure on the government, which goes on the counterattack by asking those who react to submit their own alternatives to the plan that has been launched.