SYRIZA accused Mitsotakis of avoiding a direct confrontation with the farmers and residents affected by the floods, claiming that he chose to send police officers to manage the situation instead of engaging with the people.
Protesters blocked from meeting the Prime Minister
Protesters had gathered early around the renovated Health Centre in Palamas, hoping to voice their grievances directly to Mitsotakis. However, within minutes of their arrival, Greek police forces set up barricades, confining the demonstrators to the courtyard of a nearby church. According to reports from ThessToday, the protesters, many of whom have lost their livelihoods due to the floods, shouted in frustration: “If you are the Prime Minister of all Greece, come and talk to these people,” and “We have no animals in the stables, we have no life, we have no income, shame! This is the Republic of Mitsotakis.”
Despite their pleas, Mitsotakis did not meet with the crowd. Instead, the police presence was intensified, further preventing any interaction between the Prime Minister and the flood victims. In a show of defiance, local farmers led by Costas Zella, the president of the farmers’ association, brought out their tractors, placing bundles of straw on them as a symbol of their plight.
Further protests in Nikaia
Later in the day, police forces set up another barricade outside the town hall in Nikaia, where Mitsotakis was scheduled to present plans for the reconstruction of Thessaly. Farmers and residents from the affected areas gathered in front of the town hall, only to find access blocked by police, who had formed a barrier using cages and lined-up squads.
The flood victims are demanding financial support and adequate flood defences to protect the region from future extreme weather events. They also requested a meeting with the Prime Minister, arguing that despite promises made after the devastation caused by Storm Daniel, the region remains vulnerable, and many victims have yet to receive full compensation. According to the protesters, thousands have only received the first installment of aid, leaving them struggling to rebuild their lives.
SYRIZA’s response
In a statement issued shortly after the events in Palamas, SYRIZA condemned Mitsotakis for refusing to meet with the farmers and residents. The party accused him of preferring “a friendly audience” where he could “read the propaganda tale of reconstruction” rather than face the harsh realities on the ground.
“Mr. Mitsotakis chose to ignore the immediate survival problems of the rural community,” the statement read. “Flood defences remain inadequate, compensation is slow and insufficient, and the Prime Minister’s government continues to turn a blind eye to the suffering of the people.”
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