The case of the closure of 204 ELTA branches fell like a bolt from the blue inside the government camp, as a series of ministers and MPs were blindsided by the decision. Of course, in high government ranks and in part of the ministers the decision was known, since at the beginning of October there had been a relevant meeting with the participation of ELTA’s management and the HCAP. However the decision was not communicated by the management of the company, with the result that the “sudden death” caught mayors, MPs and of course citizens – especially the elderly – completely off guard.

And so ELTA yesterday decided to take a step back under the pressure of reactions — but without taking back the substance of the intervention. In a newer announcement of the company, the “sudden death” will indeed apply for the branches of the big urban centers and the prefectural capitals, but a 3-month extension will be given for the branches in other regional areas, with emphasis on the border prefectures. Of course this decision also is not without turbulence and provokes intense reaction among ND MPs.

“The previous decision was technocratically more correct, but communicatively completely mistaken. Now this decision is both substantively and communicatively wrong,” says a blue MP to protothema.gr, who is waiting for the session that will take place in Parliament next Tuesday in order to raise the issue at a higher level and to point out that two speeds are now being created.

Nevertheless, the government does not appear to be shifting, despite the given displeasure regarding the handling by ELTA management and CEO Grigoris Sklikas. “The restructuring of ELTA is necessary for its survival and the government understands the acute financial problem of the company despite the interventions and the steps already taken. At the same time though, the modernization of ELTA passes through cooperation of the Post with local societies, which after all make up their strong client base,” government officials said yesterday. “Blue” MPs however are on an even harder line with the company’s management. “We would have expected that at least one ELTA branch would remain in each major Municipality of the country. Unfortunately this was not possible. I consider it a given that cuts will also touch the executives of the central administration, so that everyone is convinced of the necessity of developments,” notes the MP of A’ Thessaloniki Dimitris Kouvelas to protothema.gr, targeting ELTA management.

The Hatzidakis reaction

In this environment the intense reaction of the government’s vice president Kostis Hatzidakis should not go unnoticed, regarding leaks, publications and backstage discussions that he knew but did not speak and that Mr. Sklikas was his own choice when he was Minister of Finance. “I never denied the paternity of reforms even if they were difficult. Like Olympic Airways, PPC, the taxation of freelancers, the linking of POS with cash registers. All these I came out publicly and supported them. The case of ELTA is not such, however for certain media anything that has social reaction they attempt to connect to me,” said Mr. Hatzidakis yesterday with meaning on Action24.

Blue discomfort

ELTA’s decision naturally creates major concern for ND MPs especially in large urban centers who suddenly found themselves receiving hundreds of complaints from mayors and their voters. Note that more frequent physical use of ELTA branches is by older citizens who constitute a privileged electoral audience of ND.

“I am pleased that ELTA proceeded to a retreat but we cannot do retreat with the lives and work of our fellow citizens. How did they intend to proceed to suspension of operation without any of us having been informed but neither the government or local authorities? And with what criteria were they proceeding to this suspension selecting also profit-making branches? I hope we have answers soon,” stresses to protothema.gr the MP of West Sector B’ Athens Maria Syreggela, who notes the decision includes even profitable branches in her constituency.

In the same wavelength also the MP of B’ Piraeus of the ruling party Michalis Livanos, as his region practically is left without an ELTA branch. “Priority is the viability of the organization, the protection of jobs and the avoidance of a ‘bottomless barrel’. However a big urban center like Nikaia or Perama for example should not remain without postal services. The way of restructuring is crucial,” points out Mr. Livanos to protothema.gr.

Under this prism the meeting of the competent Parliament Committees at noon on Tuesday with the participation of officials of the Ministry of Finance and the managements of ELTA and HCAP is expected to be explosive.