Political Storm over Hellenic Post Closures – Pierrakakis Speaks of “Saving”, Opposition of “Dismantling”

The decision to shut down 204 branches of the Hellenic Post (ELTA) has triggered a political and social backlash across Greece. Speaking before the Parliament’s Economic Affairs Committee, Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis described the move as “a set of difficult but necessary decisions” aimed at securing the future of a state-owned enterprise on the brink of collapse.

“ELTA faces serious structural problems. We must take bold, realistic measures to ensure its survival,” Pierrakakis said, defending the government’s strategy amid growing criticism from across the political spectrum.

Political Divide: “Rescue” or “Dismantling”?

The opposition parties denounce the decision as “abrupt, socially insensitive and destructive”, arguing that it disproportionately affects elderly citizens, islanders, and mountain communities—areas where ELTA outlets often serve as the only public service link.

The SYRIZA and PASOK parties have jointly requested an emergency parliamentary session, accusing the government of “abandoning remote Greece.”

“We cannot discuss tax reforms while 200 local communities lose their postal service overnight,” said SYRIZA MP Nikos Pappas, warning of a “social disconnect between Athens and the periphery.”

From the PASOK camp, Michalis Katrinis called for immediate parliamentary briefings from the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations (HCAP, or “Superfund”), denouncing the move as “a unilateral decision made without consultation or social accountability.”

Government’s Case: “A Necessary Rationalization”

Minister Pierrakakis countered that ELTA has received over €250 million in state aid, through capital increases and voluntary exit programs, in an effort to modernize operations and stem financial losses.

“The money invested was to save the organization, not to preserve an unsustainable model. Letter mail has dropped to just 10% of what it was a decade ago,” he stressed, framing the dilemma as “transformation or extinction.”

Even within the ruling New Democracy party, MPs such as Stelios Petsas have voiced concern about the social impact, calling for “special measures to protect elderly citizens and remote communities.”

The Superfund’s Role – Autonomy or Austerity?

Since 2017, ELTA has been under the control of the Hellenic Superfund, which operates independently of direct government oversight. Its management defended the closures as part of a long-delayed restructuring plan, arguing that the affected branches had minimal commercial activity and annual losses exceeding €150,000 each.

However, the Panhellenic Federation of Postal Unions (POST) condemned the move as “an Armageddon plan”, accusing the Superfund of “stripping ELTA of its public-service mission and social character.”

European Dimension – Questioning the “Universal Service”

The issue has already reached Brussels, with PASOK MEP Sakis Arnaoutoglou submitting a formal question to the European Commission, asking how the EU intends to ensure that Greece “respects its obligations for universal postal service provision, especially in remote and island regions.”

The Commission will now have to examine whether the Greek plan violates EU rules on universal access to essential postal services.

Analysis: Reform or Political Misstep?

The ELTA case is not just an economic issue—it is a litmus test of political credibility for the government. Balancing fiscal discipline with social cohesion has proven a delicate act, especially when state enterprises carry both economic and symbolic weight.

The image of local post offices closing in villages and islands, where the postman is often “the face of the state,” risks eroding public trust and reinforcing perceptions of centralization and neglect.

In the coming weeks, as Parliament prepares for the joint committee hearing, the government will face a defining moment: whether the ELTA reform will be remembered as a bold modernization effort—or a social and political blunder.

Source: pagenews.gr