Controversy over Hellenic Post (ELTA) branch closures sparks political debate
The Greek government’s decision to close over 200 Hellenic Post (ELTA) branches nationwide has provoked a heated political debate, with opposition parties and government ministers offering starkly different perspectives.
Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis defended the closures during a Parliamentary session on the new tax bill, emphasizing that the government had provided substantial financial support for ELTA’s restructuring, not its closure.
He acknowledged the fall in letter mail volumes and the need for difficult decisions but reiterated that the goal was to reshape ELTA for long-term viability, not to shut it down.
Pierrakakis pointed out that discussions about branch closures began under previous administrations and promised further dialogue, with a meeting of ELTA management and lawmakers scheduled next week to address concerns.
PASOK: What is the future of ELTA's workforce
Meanwhile, Kostas Tsoukalas, spokesperson for the main opposition PASOK-Movement for Change, strongly criticized the closures. He argued that ELTA is legally bound to ensure a universal postal service under its 2022 contract and expressed concerns that shutting branches in rural and peripheral areas would undermine social cohesion. Tsoukalas also raised questions about which branches would be closed, under what criteria, and the future of ELTA’s workforce.
SYRIZA: Urgent Parliamentary debate
Sokratis Famellos, leader of the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, also condemned the government’s move, accusing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of undermining rural communities, pensioners, and farmers by cutting essential services. Famellos warned Mitsotakis not to proceed with the closures before a Parliamentary debate, which has been arranged in response to SYRIZA’s request. He emphasized that Greek society could not bear further blows to its public services.
The closures of ELTA branches, which are scheduled to begin on November 3, remain a contentious issue as the debate continues to unfold.
