Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is scheduled to visit the greater region of Thessaly on Monday, along with an envoy of Ministers, to survey the recovery efforts one year after the region was hit by an Armageddon-like storm called hurricane Daniel, according to reports at TO VIMA.
However, dissatified farmers and flood vicitims will be waiting for the Prime Minister to express their dissatisfaction with the slow rate of progress, and have organized a series of local protests.
The Visit to Thessaly
In detail, PM Mitsotakis will visit the hard-hit villages of Farkadona in Trikala, Metamorfosi, Palamas, and Mouzaki in Karditsa.
TO VIMA says that at around 17:00 he is expected to discuss the “strategic plan” for the reconstruction of Thessaly, including dams, infrastructure, and water management projects at the town hall of Karditsa.
The PM will be accompanied by the Minister of Environment, Theodoros Skylakakis, of Agricultural Development, Kostas Tsiaras, and of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras.
Although geographically close, the PM will not visit the Volos region, which has recently been declared in a State of Emergency due to the port and beaches being ‘flooded’ by over 100 tons of freshwater fish that somehow ended up in the sea where they perished. The region is currently performing a massive cleanup effort of the rotting fish, which has crippled the local tourism industry due to the stench.
Protests
The Prime Minister’s visit is once again prompting flood victims, including farmers who lost their fields, to take to the streets, arguing that a year after the disaster, the Thessaly plains have not recovered, notes TO VIMA.
On the contrary, they claim that problems remain unsolved or reconstruction processes are significantly delayed. Although some immediate flood protection interventions have progressed, the more substantial projects have not yet begun.
Specifically, protests are being organized in the square of Nikaia by the Larissa Labor Center, the United Federation of Agricultural Associations of Larissa, and the flood victim committees of Giannouli, Nea Smyrni, Agios Thomas, ATA, Falanis, and Koulouri Worker Housing Projects, details TO VIMA. Other local organizations and unions are also expected to join in and gather at local squares.
Growing Political Pressure
TO VIMA mentions that the point of the visit is to reassure the Thessaly region that their troubles and the reconstruction of the area remain a political priority for the incumbent New Democracy party.
That being said, the visit is also being viewed as a defensive move, as New Democracy members from the region have noted increased dissatisfaction with the central government.
The situation in the areas around Thessaly, including the suspected source of Volos’ dead fish problem, Lake Karla, are yet another thorn in the side of the government, and as a result the PM will also be briefed on the situation.
President of opposition party SYRIZA, Stefanos Kasselakis, will not miss the opportunity to pick up on wavering support for New Democracy in the region, and as a result has also planned a visit to Volos on Monday, where he is expected to spend time with local officials and coastal businesses owners, says TO VIMA.
