During the briefing of political editors, government spokesman, Pavlos Marinakis, asked about the Tempi accident and the materials the train was carrying, he replied: “It is a process under investigation and ongoing in the justice system. We are not substituting the judiciary, unlike the opposition which is trying to functionalize a tragic accident. There are the official expert reports. All of them are taken into account by the respective judicial officer and he draws his conclusions. It’s best not to have courtroom hearings on television or at the briefings of civil judges.”

Asked about post-election partnerships and what PASOK-KINAL chairman Nikos Androulakis says, Marinakis noted: “What does he want? Not to see his interviews? He said it himself. He tried to pick up the pieces yesterday. I think he made it worse. His staffers have reported them. The only party we haven’t heard of as a possible interlocutor is ADARSYA and is it the government’s fault? The government is trying to implement its programme and that is what it will be judged on. Mr Androulakis has chosen to call on parties that some consider progressive and we consider regressive.”

On the afternoon event and the speech of former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on Greek-Turkish relations and the timing of the next meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said that Maximou and the government, all together, are trying to strengthen the country. Greece radiates stability and credibility. There is no concern about a political event if only there was. For the meeting with the Turkish President, when there is something, announcements will be made.”

Regarding the increases in ferry fares, he noted that the main objective is to use resources and financial instruments to absorb the increases, underlining: “I think we are on the right track.”

Regarding the reactions of residents of Chios to the operation of an antimony mine, the government spokesman clarified that there is no fast-track tender and that there is no way that the opinion of the community will not be heard.

Asked about statements by Health Minister Adonis Georgiades that it was a mistake for Sakellaropoulou to go to the table after the passage of the law on same-sex couples, Marinakis said: “Ms. Sakellaropoulou is President of the Republic who has honored and honors the institution with her presence and exudes prestige. We explained why the Prime Minister’s nominee for the next term is Kostas Tasoulas. It is a given that Adonis Georgiades can express his views. He made his value judgment and he did very well.”

Asked next if the EPS workers are a gang of misery, he replied that the Health Minister was not referring to the workers of the NHS and added: “This is opposition propaganda. The minister, and the government, is trying to empower NHS workers. To upgrade the conditions in which they work. It was on such a project that Mr Georgiades went to Patras and some people thought it right to refer to the Minister and call him unwelcome. If you consider it a democratic attitude for a small minority to call him unwelcome, I think it is not a healthy protest. Mr Georgiades refers to small minorities who appear as preachers of rights but who have not achieved anything because, at the end of the day, we do not have specific demands. It is about how one demands, what one demands and what one achieves. We have done a lot, our goal is to give more. We will continue in that direction.”

On the complaint by the Medical Association of Athens that the new electronic prescription is not working, he noted that he has no information and that if there is a technical issue, the relevant ministries will respond.

Also, regarding a complaint by hospital doctors at the Georgios Gennimatas Hospital about waiting times in the Emergency Room, the government spokesman said that the average waiting time has slightly decreased but needs to be reduced further. This, he added, will be done through interventions announced, such as building upgrades, direct recruitment, and the supply of more material.

“A lot has been done in health care but especially in the emergency room more is needed,” Marinakis pointed out.