The move came after Konstantinou took a different oath, referring to the struggle for the interests of workers and migrants, the overthrow of the ‘government-capital-EU’ attack, the end of wars, punishment for the killings in Tempi and Pylos, freedom in Palestine and internationalist solidarity. He also referred to those executed at Kaisariani, Pavlos Fyssas, Shahzat Luqman and Alexis Grigoropoulos.

‘The Interior Ministry and Mr Livanios have carried out the appropriate disciplinary investigations into this case. Whether he will be removed will be decided by the services,’ Georgiadis said.

He then turned against the municipal authority, referring to ‘the ridiculousness that Doukas allowed’ and adding: ‘Let those who did not vote for Bakoyannis in the second round think about it.’

The health minister claimed there was ‘obvious illegality’, saying that Konstantinou ‘did not take the prescribed oath’, while signing that he had done so. ‘So there is some forgery,’ he concluded.

Konstantinou responded in detail:

‘The Subversive Alliance for Athens proceeded with the second rotation of its representation on the city council, after Kostas Papadakis and Olga Kleitsa, and I took over the seat of Athens municipal councillor. Now others want to decide: the government, the Decentralised Administration, the far right, pro-government media and internet trolls.

‘In a coup-like move, the government and the far right, hand in hand, under the pretext of the manner of the swearing-in, identical to three previous occasions in 2010, 2014 and 2019, are moving to get rid of a voice that has bothered them for years.

‘As for Adonis Georgiadis and his far-right friends, we expected nothing different. New Democracy is a sinking ship, and the far right is its lifeline. They are nostalgic for the junta, which appointed mayors and municipal councils.

‘When they were bothered by Javed Aslam? Plevris revocated his asylum. When they were bothered by solidarity with Palestine? Collaboration with Netanyahu in the kidnappings of Freedom Flotilla activists. When they were bothered by teachers? Suspensions and persecutions.

‘Let us remind them that Orbán, Trump’s friend who is leading these persecutions, is a thing of the past. They will share his fate.

‘We continue as we stated in the oath:

‘We have battles right now:

‘13 May: ADEDY strike for pay rises and permanent jobs for all contract workers.

‘13 May: Student elections, to vote down the New Democracy faction and strengthen the revolutionary left.

‘15 May: Solidarity mobilisation with Javed at the Ministry of Migration against the cancellation of his asylum.

‘16 May: Solidarity march in Prosfygika. Syntagma, noon.

‘16 May: Solidarity march for Palestine. Nakba.

‘21–24 May: Marxism 2026, Panteion University, a festival of revolutionary ideas to change the world.’

Konstantinou’s oath read:

‘I declare on my honour and conscience that I will fight to defend the interests of workers, locals and migrants, to overturn the barbaric attack of the government, capital, the EU and imperialism.

‘To put our lives above their profits.

‘To end the wars and the genocide in Gaza. To punish the murderers in Tempi, Pylos and Violanta.

‘For a free Palestine and internationalist solidarity across borders.

‘For a society under the control of workers, free from capitalist barbarity and exploitation, poverty and oppression, with complete separation of Church and state.

‘For a society without discrimination on the basis of race, gender, nation or religion.

‘Eighty-two years since the liberation of Athens from Nazi occupation, honouring the dead of the Resistance, the 200 executed at Kaisariani, honouring Pavlos Fyssas, Shahzat Luqman and Alexis Grigoropoulos, I will fight for a city harmonised with social needs and the environment, with democracy, freedom and solidarity, without racism and neo-Nazis.’

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