“No one has a monopoly on democratic issues” said Deputy Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection Nikos Toskas when independent MP Stathis Panagoulis asked him about the recent violent attacks of police forces against pensioners who were protesting.

Mr. Toskas said that about three hundred people clashed with the police and some were stepped on, some were slightly injured and one of the policemen was transferred to the hospital.

He also added that the police had orders to use only their shields , but since some were stepped on, they fired a very limited amount of tear gas, which is the mildest means to prevent certain situations.

Also, referring to similar incidents occurred during a protest rally organised by Greece’s Communist Party and PAME, he said that these were “unfortunate incidents”.

The newspaper Avgi published an article written by Giorgos Kyritsikis on alarming incidents recorded involving Hellenic police actions.

The article attacks Deputy Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection Nikos Toskas  referring to various actions of police forces which are described as “compatible with previous attitudes and behavior, which don’t comply with government’s beliefs”.

Specifically, the journalist writes about policemen beating pensioners and arresting volunteers who help refugees stressing that “we watch with great concern police and port authorities being engaged in actions which expose the government, since these actions don’t comply with government’s beliefs”.

The article points out that “There is no evidence that this is some kind of organized behavior, sabotage, or anything like that. But, it is a fact that such things happen and might be compatible with previous attitudes and behavior, but they don’t comply with this government’s beliefs,” concluding “It would be a shame if SYRIZA escapes from lions’ jaws only to be eaten by bugs”.