The Municipality of Athens has issued a statement in response to the decision of Haris Doukas to appoint George Papandreou’s son, Andreas, as Managing Director of the National Garden, stressing that he was elected as a member of the board of directors after a vote by the Athens City Council.
A statement that has also sparked a variety of comments on social media.
“The Mayor of Athens never appointed Andreas G. Papandreou CEO at the National Garden,” the headline of the press release reads.
According to the release, the Municipality of Athens claims that “the members of the Board of Directors of the National Garden were approved, with a large majority, by the City Council (39 members of the City Council from 4 municipal factions voted in favour, while there were 2 white votes and only one negative vote)”.
He concludes by saying that “Andrew C. Papandreou, therefore, is a simple, unpaid member of the Board of Directors of the National Garden. […] But no one should be judged, on the basis of his name or his origin. No one is allowed to ‘assassinate’ characters.”
The statement of the Municipality of Athens:
“The Mayor of Athens never appointed Andreas G. The Mayor of Athens did not appoint Andreas Papandreou CEO of the National Garden. Some people, once again, were quick to draw arbitrary conclusions.
The Mayor of Athens, Charis Doukas, never appointed Andreas G. Papandreou as Managing Director of the National Garden. Papandreou.
The members of the Board of Directors of the National Garden were approved, by a large majority, by the Municipal Council (39 members of the Municipal Council from 4 municipal factions voted in favour, while there were 2 white votes and only one negative vote).
Andreas C. Papandreou, therefore, is a simple, unpaid member of the Board of Directors of the National Garden.
All even simple, unpaid members of the Board of Trustees will be rigorously evaluated for their work.
No one, however, should be judged, a priori, on the basis of name or background. No one is allowed to ‘character assassinate’.”
“If a Papandreou doesn’t know about green, who does?”
“Well done to the mayor. If an Andreas Papandreou doesn’t know about green, who does?”
With irony, but also with anger, even PASOK members – who consider that the party is being defamed – are dragging many of the reactions to the placement of the former prime minister’s son in this position.
The reactions have “flared up” with the citizens (and not only) of Athens wondering if Andreas Papandreou “junior”‘s CV is enough for him to take up this position.
Most importantly, asking for the floor from Haris Doukas who was evangelizing that he was coming to this position to crack down on family rule and appointing the fourth generation of Papandreou with a “good morning”.
