“I consider the amendment regarding the Unknown Soldier monument to be correct and I wonder why there’s opposition to it. I’m puzzled how we left this monument without Defense Ministry oversight for so many years,” emphasized Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis speaking on Parapolitika 90.1 and the show “Opposing Microphones” with Sotiris Xenakis and Vasilis Skouris.
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Initially, when asked about the amendment being voted on tomorrow in Parliament regarding the Unknown Soldier monument, he stated: “Tomorrow we also have the Health Ministry bill that resolves high-cost drug distribution, why don’t we focus on things that change people’s lives? Is it possible that we only deal with the monument?” When pointed out that it has become an intra-governmental problem, he responded:
“How has it become an intra-governmental problem? Mr. Dendias’s statement was regarding Mr. Routsis’s request, what does this have to do with the Unknown Soldier monument?” When asked whether this amendment would allow someone to go on hunger strike again, he answered: “The Health Minister doesn’t have the authority to judge this amendment. I consider it correct and I wonder why there’s opposition. I’m puzzled how we left this monument without Defense Ministry oversight for so many years,” adding: “It’s a military monument.” When the journalist responded “it’s a national monument,” Mr. Georgiadis said: “It’s not national, nor a monument of society. It’s not an unknown citizen or unknown pensioner, it’s the Unknown Soldier and it’s a military monument. Where do you see the absurdity in the Defense Ministry taking responsibility?”
On Venizelos’s statement that the country is ungovernable
When asked about his view on Evangelos Venizelos’s statement that the country is now ungovernable, he declared: “I haven’t heard the relevant statement, but I can’t understand why he would say that. We’ve had a stable parliamentary democracy for so many years, elections will be held, unemployment is falling, institutions function normally…” He emphasized: “We’ve entered a new regime of misery, all day you hear recycled complaints. I understand there’s fatigue, but when you go abroad you hear the best things about Greece.”
On opinion polls
Regarding opinion polls and the fact that many people don’t share this optimism, as well as low approval ratings, he commented: “There are several issues like the fact we’ve been governing for quite a few years – 7 years is a lot for Greece. Also, there’s no opposition, this harms us. The continuous fragmentation of the opposition, which will be greater with Tsipras, creates an image of dissolution.”
Subsequently, when asked about Mr. Androulakis, he told the journalist: “Since I consider you a serious person, ask me serious questions.” Regarding a potential party by Ms. Karystianos, he said: “If Ms. Karystianos decides to do it. Whoever thinks they have a proposal should be tested by the people. The Greek people will judge, they decide, and they accept the consequences.”
On Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Finally, he stated about the New Democracy government and Kyriakos Mitsotakis: “There’s no more faithful ally to Kyriakos than me. He should and can claim a third term. The country has no need for another prime minister. I fight for his third term and his staying in ND because I consider him a very good prime minister. Anyone who opposes him will find me against them.”
