Plans for a ban on e-scooter use by minors were announced by the Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, speaking on SKAI TV, emphasizing that the issue requires immediate and comprehensive regulation. The minister characterized e-scooters as an “environmentally friendly mode of transport,” however he stressed that strict safety rules must be established. As he mentioned, a complete ban for minors is being examined, as well as mandatory insurance for users.
At the same time, he referred to problems caused by their uncontrolled use, such as parking on sidewalks and hundreds of e-scooters circulating on main roads, noting that this phenomenon “must stop.” Mr. Chrysochoidis also emphasized that these issues will be regulated soon, while calling on municipalities to take measures for parking and, where necessary, to limit the number of e-scooters.
Referring to a drone incident in Lefkada, he noted that “it is certainly not something random” and that it is a serious issue, for which, as he said, the Armed Forces will provide answers. “I don’t want to say anything. It was found in the Ionian Sea, near Lefkada by fishermen, at a point that was not visible. The armed forces that are responsible for these issues are examining it and there will be announcements. It is certainly not something random, it is serious, and the armed forces will provide answers after the investigation they are conducting.”
Chrysochoidis on the Crete murder: “I understand the anger but differences between people cannot be resolved this way”
Regarding the crime in Heraklion with the 21-year-old victim, he commented that “police do not adapt their behavior and reactions and actions to everyone’s perceptions. Police enforce the law. Here there were one, two, three complaints that this person was trying to harm the child. These were reported to the competent police station, which sent a report to the prosecutor. And the prosecutor ordered what he thought or what he judged was right to be done. Police do not arrest without a prosecutor’s order. Nor do they take action. What is this we’re hearing? I understand the anger, the grief, the pain, but on the other hand, let’s focus on the fact that people’s differences cannot be resolved this way.”
When asked about it, the minister clarified that “there is no discord between the police and the prosecutorial authorities.”
Regarding whether he fears a new vendetta might break out in Crete, Mr. Chrysochoidis said “I’m not afraid of anything. Simply what I constantly and generally fear is that instead of sitting down and discussing all these issues at the family level, at school, at the political level, we end up making assessments after the fact. These perceptions are known in these communities, they circulate among them, they are open secrets. And unfortunately nobody does anything.”
“The issue of weapons proliferation in our time is more collective and concerns us. You don’t need to be in Crete to have a weapon. In fact, so old that this particular person might have had it from his grandfather. There is a struggle at the European level and I fear that when the war in Ukraine ends at some point, we might have bigger problems,” the minister also mentioned.
“No Greek Mafia murder remains unsolved”
Regarding developments in the Greek Mafia investigation and the arrests made by police for the execution of Giorgos Moschouris, he said “another murder has been solved. And this has become the rule over the last three years. No Greek Mafia murder remains unsolved because behind this there are over 20 unsolved murders. This is progress and a message to those who for so many years hid behind mafias believing that police were not capable of solving cases. At this moment there is an answer and they are in prison.”
“The sweat of the jersey starts from the struggle each minister gives every day in his ministry”
Regarding yesterday’s New Democracy parliamentary group meeting, the minister mentioned that “the sweat of the jersey starts from the struggle each minister gives every day in his ministry, to meet the needs and responsibilities he has towards citizens and the prime minister who appointed him. I estimate that almost all ministers work conscientiously and responsibly. There are issues that have objective difficulties, problems that come many times not only from internal but also external factors. I believe there is a daily struggle to provide response.”
When asked how he comments on Adonis Georgiadis’s criticism of Nikos Dendias, the minister did not take a position, answering: “this is not a good conversation you’re having with me because I’m not willing to comment. Adonis has a way of expressing himself, he expresses himself in his own way. Good for him that he can express whatever he can think, but I am not his commentator.”
Regarding the incompatibility of minister-MP roles, Mr. Chrysochoidis said “I have many objections to these issues being heard these days. Citizens have the ability every 4 years to express their will sovereignly. And their personal preference for a particular MP is something irreplaceable and democratic. The preference vote has some problems but countries that don’t have preference voting unfortunately have a huge democratic deficit.”
“I have another view. When a minister is also an MP, he has greater responsibility in terms of consciousness, responsibility and through the struggle he gives, he wants to distinguish himself. The politician is irreplaceable,” he emphasized.
