Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with citizens in Melissia, after earlier visiting an area in Penteli that was burned in the major 2024 wildfire and has now been reforested. “We are working every day on measures to support households facing the major problem of high prices,” the Prime Minister told citizens, adding that the government is introducing support measures through tax cuts and increased investments, while most other European countries are raising taxes and cutting benefits.

Earlier, Kyriakos Mitsotakis had visited the reforested area in Penteli that was affected by the 2024 fire.

“I had the opportunity to visit Penteli and inspect the reforestation projects currently underway. As we speak, a large part of Penteli is already being replanted, and by next spring, using funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, we will have planted more than one million saplings. This will help restore the natural environment and assist the mountain itself in recovering,” he stated.

“Right after that, I went to see a site that I had visited a year ago when it was completely burned down — the indoor gymnasium in Penteli. Thanks to a generous sponsorship, we kept our promise: not only did we rebuild it, but we made it much better than it was before. We said it, and we did it,” the Prime Minister added.

Concluding, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: “I want to retain one word from the Mayor’s kind introduction — the word ‘try’. We are constantly trying, every single day, my friends, to make the lives of Greek citizens better. Under difficult conditions, in an extremely turbulent geopolitical environment, it is our duty to keep our country’s ship steady and safe. And I assure you, we are achieving that.”

Visit to the Municipal Gymnasium that burned down in 2024

The Prime Minister visited the Nea Penteli Indoor Gymnasium, which was completely rebuilt with sponsorship from GEK TERNA, after being entirely destroyed in the 2024 fire.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis was guided through the new facilities by Penteli Mayor Natassa Kosmopoulou and had the opportunity to speak with the children practicing at the gym.

“I had visited the area right after the devastating fire last August. At that time, I promised that we would move heaven and earth to ensure that restoration work would be completed as quickly as possible, and I specifically committed that the first major project to be delivered would be the reconstructed indoor gymnasium.

I want to sincerely thank Giorgos Peristeris and GEK TERNA for their generous sponsorship and for the speed with which they completed this important project.

Truly, there is no greater joy than seeing young children smiling, playing basketball, and enjoying our sports facilities.

So, out of the fire that caused such great damage, we at least had the opportunity to rebuild this gymnasium much better than it was before — and of course, we continue,” the Prime Minister said.

Penteli Mayor Natassa Kosmopoulou noted: “We thank our Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, very much, because after the destruction of this sports hall, he rebuilt it for us. We also thank Mr. Peristeris very much for creating such a wonderful facility. I thank both of you from the bottom of my heart.”

The Chairman and CEO of GEK TERNA Group, Giorgos Peristeris, added: “Thank you for the Mayor’s kind words — we had excellent cooperation. This project, this sponsorship investment, was completed in six months and resulted in something beautiful. I wanted to say something about our company’s social contribution, but it’s not necessary. When I came in earlier and saw fifteen little kids, under 10 years old, practicing basketball, that was the most wonderful sight anyone could see. It made it all worthwhile.”

The Prime Minister was accompanied at the gymnasium by Adonis Georgiadis, Niki Kerameus, Nikos Papathanasis, and Pavlos Marinakis.