Deputy Health Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos addressed the controversy surrounding Nikos Dendias and the amendment regarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as commenting on Alexis Tsipras, Antonis Samaras, and the Ministry of Health bill.
Vartzopoulos: “There is no crisis in the New Democracy family”
Dimitris Vartzopoulos appeared Wednesday morning (22/10) on ERTnews and the “Newroom” program, where he commented: “Regarding the issue that has been discussed for a day now, with Mr. Dendias, this is nothing more than wishful thinking, an attempt by New Democracy’s political opponents to create an issue where none exists. They are reading their own desires rather than reality.” He added: “Mr. Dendias had a specific obligation during the parliamentary discussion on the Unknown Soldier issue. In his statement, he said nothing different from what the prime minister said in his speech.”
He continued: “There is no crisis in the New Democracy family,” adding that “MPs have their opinions and can express them in Parliament. Ministers are appointed. When they have an opinion, they express it in the cabinet, and from then on, the government speaks with one voice. There are no dissenting ministers. When ministers disagree, they resign or are fired.”
“I hope Tsipras forms a party”
When asked about the next moves of former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, the deputy minister responded: “I hope he forms his party to unite the broader Left, and does well in the polls, because then the serious Greek citizen will finally understand that there is again the danger of the Left returning, the real Left with Tsipras in power. And they will say, there is one salvation for the homeland: vote for New Democracy again.”
“Samaras was our leader”
Regarding Antonis Samaras, he stated: “Mr. Samaras was our leader. He was a man whose presence on the Greek political scene, during the memorandum period, saved the homeland, and I experienced this firsthand. The fact that he is currently outside the party is a great sadness for us. For all of us, it’s a great sadness, but all I can say is that we all wish our family to be together again and include Mr. Samaras.”
The Ministry of Health bill solves various problems
In conclusion, Dimitris Vartzopoulos referred to the Ministry of Health bill, currently in the Social Affairs Committee, noting that “it solves various problems that arise mainly from requests by social groups we work with, trade union bodies active in the health sector, and what our service requires. For the first time, transfers of mental health patients, especially those who must be admitted following prosecutor’s orders for mandatory examination, will be carried out, starting next year, by a special EKAB unit and not by the Greek Police in patrol cars, as is currently done.”
