The devastating forest fires that broke out near Athens on Sunday and burned huge areas of the northeastern suburbs of the capital have sparked widespread anger against Greece’s government.
The tragic event that left one woman dead and thousands of hectares in ashes is but another natural disaster in Greece’s recent history.
Along with the widespread destruction of homes, businesses, and public venues in villages and suburbs affected by the blaze, the general sentiment in Greece is anger with the center-right government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The New Democracy government, which won a second term by a landslide only fourteen months ago, seems to be hit by one environmental disaster after the other, and this has not left its political face unscarred.
Greece’s opposition slams government’s response over forest fires
All opposition parties in Greece have already criticized the government’s response and handling of yet another forest fire that ended up burning large swathes of land.
Stefanos Kasselakis, leader of the main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance party, questioned the number of emergency teams sent to the affected areas. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday afternoon, Kasselakis demanded that Greece’s Prime Minister immediately sack Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias.
“Political responsibility is determined by the results of political actions and political choices. For a fire to cross 40 kilometers through the already half-burned Attica and then enter and burn urban areas, this is something that suits Kabul, not Athens,” Kasselakis said.
On his behalf, PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis visited affected areas near the historic town of Marathon. “It is not possible for us to experience such tragic consequences every year. We need to do more as soon as possible,” Androulakis noted.
Right-wing Greek Solution party leader Kyriakos Velopoulos asked for the immediate resignation of the Greek Prime Minister.
“At a time when even the urban fabric of Attica was burned, the Prime Minister remains missing, probably waiting for advice to assume responsibility from his communications staff,” Velopoulos noted in a post on X.
“Let the ‘[serially] irresponsible’ Mitsotakis finally take on the sole political responsibility that belongs to him and submit his resignation,” Velopoulos concluded.
Similar statements, damning the Greek government, were issued by all other opposition parties, including the Communist Party, the New Left Party, and the Course of Freedom party of former Speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou.
Greece’s media voice defined by growing anger over Athens forest fires
Much of Greece’s media has also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the situation, mirroring the general public anger.
Front pages on Tuesday included titles like “Catastrophe,” “Unanswered Questions,” and “The Five Whys of the Disaster.” The anger was reflected in newspapers from across the political spectrum.
Right-leaning daily Dimokratia said on its front page: “Nightmare! Half of Attica’s forests have been burned during the Mitsotakis administration.”
Left-leaning daily Efimerida ton Syntakton said ”112: Vacate the Maximos Mansion!” The Maximos Mansion is the Prime Minister’s office in Greece.
Even the historic center-leaning daily Ta Nea, which normally has a friendlier stance towards the Mitsotakis government, was damning on its front page today.
The front page of Ta Nea on Tuesday read: “Athens is burned. Enough is enough with the fires, the responsibilities of the government are huge.”
Greece’s government announces support measures
In an attempt to ease the pressure on those affected by the forest fires and as an indirect response to the widespread criticism, the government announced relief measures on Tuesday afternoon.
So far, the Interior Ministry has announced that affected municipalities will be offered an emergency fund of 4.7 million euros to deal with immediate needs.
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said on Tuesday that “the primary objective [of the government] is the immediate recording of the damages suffered by citizens and businesses and their quick assistance and restoration.”
Prime Minister Mitsotakis held an emergency meeting with a large number of Ministers, including Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias.
The government’s measures also include five to ten thousand euros in grants for every affected household, depending on the level of the damage, 80-percent coverage of the cost for repairs, rent subsidies for those who need to find another place to live, as well as a pause of tax payments for a period from six months to three years depending on the situation.
More measures have been announced for business owners whose businesses were affected, as well as for farmers and those on state benefits, such as the Minimum Guaranteed Income or Housing Allowance subsidy.
