Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reproved Deputy Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas for using tear gas against pensioners who were protesting the new pension cuts. After pictures of sad old men with swollen, teary eyes were released in the press and the social media, Tsipras put the blame on the deputy minister. The prime minister expressed his disapproval of the use of tear gas against the pensioners and asked Nikos Toskas to prohibit the use of chemicals against protesting workers and pensioners. The citizen protection deputy minister took full political responsibility of the riot police’s decision to use chemicals. Like a good leftist, Toskas actually issued an official statement that is verging on laughable. “The Ministry of Citizen Protection takes the political responsibility for the limited use of chemicals during the pensioners protest today, October 3, 2016, at the intersection of Vasilisis Sofias Avenue and Irodou Attikou Street. After today’s incident, we have given orders to prohibit any use of tear gas in protests of workers and pensioners.”