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Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras offered assurances to a group of survivors of the deadly fires in Mati and Neos Voutzas that he will meet 15 demands that they tabled during a three-hour meeting at the PM’s office yesterday

All the changes and reforms that have been implemented by the first left-wing government, have led to a weakening and not a strengthening of state mechanisms, as one witnessed with the General Secretariat of Civil Protection and the Fire Service.

With the reshuffle, Alexis Tsipras will attempt to close the process of attributing responsibility for the wildfire tragedy, and to shield himself and his closest associates from harsh criticism of their inability to handle crises.

Tsipras announced a series of immediate actions planned by the government to reconstruct fire ravaged areas and to avert a similar disaster in the future

What is the explanation for the fact that 16 days after the catastrophe authorities have still not issued an official list of the names of the victims? Do they not know the names? Are they trying to avoid or hide something?

They hoped they could plod on this way until the cabinet reshuffle, unleashing charges, and blaming illegal houses and the dead

The emperor donned different cloaks in order to stay in power. At the critical moment, however, he was not able to hide. The children cried, “The Emperor has no clothes!”

The fragile, protective glass built around SYRIZA and the prime minister personally, which was created with much effort, was shattered.

Citizens’ Protection Minister Nikos Toskas resigned today, after a barrage of criticism over his management of the deadly wildfires.

For decades, Ta Nea did, does, and will continue to do what it knows best – to record events and check authority, supporting democracy and serving the country.

Even as government members were spouting excuses, the volunteers were offering blood, money, food, and support, and now even their homes.

Alexis Tsipras' decision to arrive in the ravaged area at 8:20am, when people were not around, was harshly criticised, and he has received ever stauncher criticism since the tragedy occurred.

What was missing once again was a discussion of the reasons why an evacuation was not ordered, why the removal of people was not organised, and why the rescue operation delayed so much.

The related announcement stated that the donation will be used primarily for the maintenance and upkeep of the firefighting arsenal and for the prospective purchase of equipment for the fire service.

The referendum will be of an advisory, non-binding nature and the question will be: “Do you support accession to the EU and Nato, with the acceptance of the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece?”

The tragedy that our country is experiencing is not suitable for jest. The fact that it took one week after the disastrous fire to announce the number of missing persons, exposes a state mechanism in complete confusion.

The state failed miserably not because it did not manage to contain the inferno –such phenomena are often humanly impossible to contain – but rather because it did not evacuate Mati in a timely manner, even though it had the time to do so.

ND spokesperson Maria Spyraki demanded the resignations of Interior Minister Panos Skourletis, Public Order Minister Nikos Toskas, General Secretary of Civil Protection Yannis Kapakis, Attica Prefect Rena Dourou and the Fire Service chief.

“Sackings, in the hour of battle, which was the rule in previous tragedies, are not an act of political courage, but rather of cowardice. This is all the more true with the easy condemnations of firefighters who heroically went to battle, policemen, Coast Guard officers, and military men who heroically fought on the fronts of the fire,” the PM said.

The first safe conclusion about the recent, deadly wildfires is that the government delayed in taking decisions that could have saved lives in the battle against the flames.

The pressures being exerted from various quarters for the assumption of responsibilities and for the tendering of resignations are great.

The time has come, however, for the government to do its duty, which is not only to offer aid to the stricken. It is also to apologise, to offer the apology that was not heard from any of its representatives.

Olympiacos FC is always ready to help our fellow human beings who are in need, and it has done so countless times, on orders from its leader, Vangelis Marinakis. So, too, now, when the country has been hit by tragedy, Olympiacos FC is showing its social face, with the Red and White team noting in […]

Injuries were suffered by 156 adults, of which 11 are on life support in hospital. Sixteen children were hospitalised, but their lives are not in danger.

Zakharova said Russia has always supported a mutually acceptable agreement on the FYROM naming issue, “which would reflect the will of the people on both sides, without external pressures and without artificial time-frames”.

The drafting of the dossier of the windmills’ candidacy for the UNESCO list occurred after a nearly one-year study by the Peripatos cultural company. Personal accounts and historical sources brought important information to light.