Reverse Full Speed at ELTA: Government Under Fire Over Regional Post Office Closures

The Greek government is scrambling to contain the political fallout caused by the decision of the Hellenic Post (ELTA)to shut down 204 branches across the country. The sudden announcement triggered fierce reactions not only from local communities but also within the ruling New Democracy party, as several MPs called for an immediate suspension of the closures.

Under growing pressure, the ELTA administration partially backtracked. Starting Monday, November 3, the restructuring will move forward only in urban centers and regional capitals—areas where multiple branches already operate. For smaller towns and rural regions, the plan will be frozen for three months, in order to allow for public consultation and better communication of the changes.

The issue quickly escalated into a political headache, prompting Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis to issue a statement distancing himself from the decision’s rollout. He also pointed fingers at the ELTA leadership and the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations (HCAP), criticizing their poor handling of communication with the public.

According to government sources, restructuring ELTA remains essential for the company’s survival. Still, they insist that modernization must proceed in cooperation with local communities, especially in remote and island regions, where postal services are a vital part of daily life.

Within the Prime Minister’s Office (Maximos Mansion), the prevailing view is that the postal service must pivot toward digital operations, door-to-door deliveries, and expanded field staffing to better serve pensioners and elderly residents.

For now, the government appears to have averted an internal crisis, yet the ELTA controversy remains an open wound—one that exposes the limits of political communication and public acceptance when economic reform meets social sensitivity and regional inequality.

Source: pagenews.gr