![Kyriakos Mitsotakis: “The scythe of justice is merciless on arsonists”](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/5937811.jpg)
Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, as part of their regular monthly meeting. The prime minister said that “the scythe of justice will be merciless against those who believe they can get away with endangering human lives and destroying precious natural resources.”
Furthermore, the prime minister emphasized that “fires are usually started by human hands” clarifying that “if it is negligence, it is unforgivable” and calling on citizens to observe the rules of elementary logic.
“The government has an obligation to readjust its planning for forest fires”
At the beginning of the dialogue they had in front of the cameras, the prime minister spoke of “difficult and very sad days as we mourn 4 of our fellow citizens, the 2 pilots of the Air Force who fell in the line of duty and two citizens who did not manage to move away from the fiery front. There is no doubt that the climate crisis is here and it is affecting us in ways more intense than scientists had warned us,” added Mr. Mitsotakis.
However, he hastened to emphasize that “the climate crisis may be a reality but it is not an alibi. The country must do more than it had planned in order to be ready to mitigate as much as possible the consequences of a reality that we all feel and can have dramatic effects in different sectors of economic and social life.
“The government has an obligation to adjust its planning for forest fires although important steps have been taken. No one can accuse the state of being absent. There were firefighters and aerial vehicles. But we must become better and learn from the best and constantly improve and not be satisfied with the progress we have achieved” added the prime minister.
“We have enough resources for this effort”
As he pointed out “this is the obligation we have been given by the Greek people” while noting that “we have enough resources for this effort. I am not only referring to the strengthening of aerial means, but we must put more emphasis on what we do in winter with our forests. We need to do more to protect the forests not in the summer but even in the seasons that are not at risk from big fires.”
Finally, in memory of “those who lost their lives carrying out an extremely difficult and dangerous mission”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis thanked “those who fight on the front lines of the fires, the fire department, the police, the coast guard, who helped so much to carry out very large evacuations in an organized manner without endangering human life”
The Prime Minister’s “thank you” to the volunteers was special, for whom he said that “especially in Rhodes, they showed great self-sacrifice”. “It is the state’s obligation to mobilize these voluntary forces so that we all do our best together against a natural phenomenon that will accompany us for many years” concluded the prime minister.
![ot.gr](/wp-content/themes/whsk_otgr/common/imgs/fav.ico/favicon-32x32.png)
![ot.gr](/wp-content/themes/whsk_otgr/common/imgs/fav.ico/favicon-32x32.png)
Latest News
![Cosco: Container Traffic Decline at Piraeus Port Continues](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/olp1-scaled-1-2048x1312-1-600x384.jpg)
Cosco: Container Traffic Decline at Piraeus Port Continues
This strategic shift has diminished Piraeus's standing as a prominent Mediterranean port and a key transshipment hub post-Suez Canal.
![Gov’t Eyes Return of Power Subsidies Amid Spike in Rates](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/power-lines-2048x1365-1-600x400.jpg)
Gov’t Eyes Return of Power Subsidies Amid Spike in Rates
According to reports, the government will resume an electricity subsidization program, given that forecasts cite disruptions – i.e. higher rates
![ELSTAT: 6.3% Increase in Output Price Index for Agriculture and Livestock](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ot_georg_PROIONTA_money-1-600x352.png)
ELSTAT: 6.3% Increase in Output Price Index for Agriculture and Livestock
The 6.3% rise in May 2024 is largely driven by an 8.8% increase in the crop output group, particularly due to changes in olive oil prices, and a 0.5% increase in the animal output group.
![Balkans Blackout Highlights Climate Threats to Power Grids](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/blackout-1-600x457.png)
Balkans Blackout Highlights Climate Threats to Power Grids
The surge in electricity demand during the heat wave and the power deficit in Balkan markets have driven up prices in the Greek wholesale electricity market.
![Greece in Top 4 Destinations Favored by European Tourists](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ploio-600x400.jpg)
Greece in Top 4 Destinations Favored by European Tourists
Greece was selected by 5.9% of respondents who were asked where they would vacation this year, up from 5.4% in the same survey last year
![Scope Affirms Greece’s BBB- Ratings; Revises Outlook to Positive](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/euros-2048x1365-1-600x400.jpg)
Scope Affirms Greece’s BBB- Ratings; Revises Outlook to Positive
The international ratings firm raised Greece to investment grade in early August 2023
![First Seaplane Test Flights to Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/hellenic-seaplanes-pilotikes-ptiseis-ydatino-pedio-lavriou-600x450.jpeg)
First Seaplane Test Flights to Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros
After decades of on-again, off-again efforts to schedule regular seaplane routes to Greece's numerous island and coastal destinations the prospect now appears within sight
![ELSTAT- Overall Import Price Index for May 2024 up 2.8% y-o-y](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/unnamed-41.jpg)
ELSTAT- Overall Import Price Index for May 2024 up 2.8% y-o-y
The same price index had decreased 20.8% from May 2022 to May 2023
![Over 7 in 10 Employees Feel Their Contributions Are Not Appreciated](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ergasia-ergazomenos-600x300.jpg)
Over 7 in 10 Employees Feel Their Contributions Are Not Appreciated
Specifically, the option "Subjective opinions are prioritized over objective data" ranked highest in importance for young employees, with a score of 3.89 out of 4
![OECD: Job Vacancies on the Rise in Greece](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ergasiabusinness-768x556-1-1-600x434.jpeg)
OECD: Job Vacancies on the Rise in Greece
By the fourth quarter of 2023, job vacancies per unemployed person had risen by more than 4, with the index reaching 446 units compared to 100 units in late 2019