With characteristic delay—mirroring the delays experienced daily by thousands of passengers at Greek airports— the government finally got around to convening an emergency meeting on the flight chaos and the mounting pressure on the air traffic control system, according to a PASOK statement.
After seven full years in government, the political leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is once again attempting to resort to public relations maneuvers, rather than taking responsibility for the failure.
At the height of the tourist season, the country’s citizens and visitors have no need for further assessments or theoretical plans on paper. The solution to the problem cannot come from new meetings, but only through a concrete action plan—which has not yet been implemented—for which the government bears full and exclusive responsibility.
PASOK – Movement for Change has highlighted the problem in a timely and absolutely clear manner. Through an official parliamentary statement and the submission of a relevant question as early as June 19, a warning was issued about the impending impasse. However, instead of heeding these warnings and taking advantage of the responsible stance of the official opposition, the government chose to do nothing. It allowed valuable time to be wasted, with the result that the situation at the airports deteriorated dramatically, embarrassing the country on the international stage and damaging tourism.
The questions remain pressing, and the answers must be provided publicly, not behind closed doors. The time for excuses is irrevocably over. Citizens demand safety, consistency, and modern infrastructure. The government must, even at this late stage, stop its public relations spin and take responsibility for a system that is on the verge of collapse and is only being kept afloat thanks to the superhuman efforts of its staff.