ELTA at the Center of Storm: MPs Demand Answers and Resignations

A marathon, explosive meeting of the New Democracy parliamentary group yesterday revealed the deep tensions surrounding the restructuring of ELTA, Greece’s national postal service. Around 90 MPs participated in the five-hour teleconference, which quickly turned into a heated clash over responsibility, communication, and political fallout.

MPs lash out at management and technocrats

Angry MPs demanded resignations from ELTA CEO Grigoris Sklikas, criticizing the lack of advance notice and transparency. Many also targeted Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, questioning why the government did not intervene earlier.

• Dimitris Markopoulos said bluntly: “You canceled our Thessaloniki measures. Give us solutions, not massages. How do we ask voters for support?”
• Theodoros Karaoglou added: “With you, the fool learns last. We MPs are the fools.”
• Former minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos criticized the technocratic approach: “We have a parliamentary democracy, not a technocratic one.”

Other MPs, including Fotini Arabatzi and Maria Syreggela, emphasized that Greece has moved past emergency measures and that the government should have consulted MPs and citizens before announcing closures.

Management defends itself

CEO Grigoris Sklikas stressed that:

• Traditional postal services now account for only 10% of activity, yet consume 50% of costs.
• Over 90% of pensions and mail are delivered to citizens’ homes.
• Since 2018, ELTA has operated under the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations (HCAP), independently of government control.

Despite acknowledging a communication failure, the government insists that citizens will not lose access to services, and that the restructuring is necessary and economically justified.

Deep divisions in the ruling party

The ELTA controversy exposes cracks within ND. MPs fear political backlash, particularly in regions affected by postal closures, as well as public discontent over other scandals like OPEKEPE.

The atmosphere has fueled speculation about a possible cabinet reshuffle, with the prime minister seeking to buy political time while managing internal rivalries and communication gaps.

Political and societal impact

The ELTA case is more than a communication issue. It reflects a deeper crisis within the government, where technocrats clash with elected officials, and citizen dissatisfaction intersects with political strategy. MPs insist that decisions impacting local communities cannot be taken without transparency, consultation, and accountability.

ELTA has become a political flashpoint, highlighting tensions between technocratic management and MPs while forcing the government to balance reform with public trust.

Source: pagenews.gr