Al. Tsipras: Instead of funds in fake vaccination campaigns, to be given to the Local Government for ladders that will go door to door

Alexis Tsipras underlined his concern and concern regarding the developments in the course of the pandemic, as well as the role that the Local Government can play in the joint effort to stop it, during his teleconference with the Central Union of Greek Municipalities. in the context of its circle of contacts with bodies “for the necessary measures to deal with the pandemic”.

The president of SYRIZA-PS, according to party sources, expressed the fear that he and many scientists have that “the” O “mutation may create conditions for a fifth wave stronger after the holidays”. That is why he stressed that “a serious coordinated State must from now on take the necessary measures so that we do not face even worse situations than what we see these days in the collapsed health system and in the tens, hundreds of our fellow citizens who are losing their lives every day “. The leader of the official opposition called it a “mistake” that “the government did not want to take advantage of and participate in the campaign for vaccination and persuade the citizens with the local government and especially with the municipalities”. In the same context, he argued that “we would have achieved much more in vaccination if funds were given not to strange lists and fake campaigns but to the local government to set up door-to-door ladders.” He noted that “mayors know in which areas, neighborhoods and homes we need to persuade people to get vaccinated”, adding that doctors, volunteers from NGOs and the Home Help program could also assist in this endeavor.

Mr. Tsipras stressed that, however, it is never too late, emphasizing that “the Local Government can play a catalytic role in strengthening the effort to persuade our fellow citizens to proceed massively in the vaccination process, both for the first and the second but also for the third installment “.

Regarding the measure of compulsory vaccination with the fine of 100 euros for those who are over 60 years old and have not been vaccinated, he said that “it does not seem to work, as only 15% of those who are not vaccinated over 60 have come to make an appointment” . “In our opinion, it has problems, since those who can afford it can avoid it,” he commented on the government decision.

At the same time, Mr. Tsipras discussed the wider problems faced by the municipalities, “which have intensified recently, as he experiences, like everyone else, the effects of the health crisis on the economy, as well as the effects of the energy crisis with frightening price increases. mainly in energy “. According to the same sources, he referred to “the deficit of 400 million euros of the municipalities, their underfunding from the new Budget, as well as the fact that the energy crisis is expected to burden the municipalities with almost half a billion euros”. “We have to see, and I am sure that you have submitted proposals and thoughts, for emergency aid measures, as if they do not exist, there will be a great risk of bankruptcy of many Local Government organizations,” he noted. At the same time, the president of SYRIZA made special mention of the “absence of local self-government organizations in the planning, distribution and absorption of the resources of the Recovery Fund”, expressing his concern that “we can not hope for a fair distribution and balanced development “. He characteristically stressed that “the Public Investment Program is planned in terms of local projects without the municipalities knowing anything. The NSRF is designed and implemented without the participation of municipalities and in the planning for the Recovery Fund and the absorption of resources, as far as I know, there is no participation of the Local Government of A ‘and B’ Degree, something that I consider extremely worrying “. He also made special mention of the “Philodimos” program, which “after many years of memorandum pressure gave breath to the local government”, while denouncing “regressions and an attempt to discredit it by renaming it a Tritsis program”, with the result, as he added , delays of almost two years in the integration of projects due to understaffing of its structure.

Source: AMPE