The incident was first reported by in.gr, and while Oikonomou did not deny being in Rhodes on the night of Monday, 12th August, he defended his actions by stating that he has no government responsibility related to firefighting efforts. He also claimed that he did not fully grasp the extent of the destruction at the time.
The revelation has sparked outrage, particularly from the opposition. SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis strongly criticised Oikonomou’s conduct, stating, “While the fire rages, the deputy minister is out clubbing. His expulsion is self-evident.” Kasselakis also accused the government of engaging in superficial actions to distract from their failings, commenting on the broader issue of the government’s response to the crisis.
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