Dora Bakoyanni tells woman to ‘shut your mouth’ during hospital meeting in Crete

A heated exchange between New Democracy MP Dora Bakoyanni and a female attendee disrupted a public meeting on the problems facing Hania Hospital in Crete on Friday, 30 October. Bakoyanni’s remarks prompted reactions from people in the audience.

The meeting brought together Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, SYRIZA MP Pavlos Polakis and other participants to discuss the hospital’s needs, challenges facing local healthcare services and possible solutions.

Tensions arose while Bakoyanni was speaking, after a woman in the audience interrupted her.

‘SHUT YOUR MOUTH FOR A MINUTE, MY DEAR’

Reacting to the interruption, Bakoyanni told the woman: “Shut your mouth for a minute, my dear!”

The woman responded by asking: “Who are you speaking to like that?”

Bakoyanni replied: “Be quiet, I am speaking,” before continuing her remarks.

The exchange prompted reactions from some people in the audience. After a brief period of tension, the meeting resumed.

HOSPITAL FUNDING AND PROPOSED HEALTHCARE CAMPUS

Speaking later in the meeting, Bakoyanni described the discussion as constructive, arguing that it had not turned into a political spectacle between Georgiadis and Polakis.

Addressing the hospital’s needs, she said she would also like to see €2 billion allocated to the institution, while adding that priority issues should be addressed during November or, at the latest, by January.

Bakoyanni also argued that groups benefiting from the hospital’s services should contribute to its support. She raised the possibility of developing a broader healthcare campus on a site of approximately 20 stremmas (2 hectares) near the hospital.

Meanwhile, a protest was held in Hania calling for improvements to local healthcare services and hospital infrastructure. The verbal confrontation at the meeting added to the public debate over the hospital’s difficulties.