Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis addressed the massacre that occurred in Vorizia district of Heraklion and the police response during Monday’s press briefing with political editors on November 3rd. Specifically, when asked whether the executive branch would take measures following the incident, he responded: “The authorities are doing things that haven’t been done for many years. The Hellenic Police dismantled 139 major criminal organizations and filed charges against 2,500 perpetrators. Frequent checks are conducted in the area, including house-to-house searches as we had multiple case files. Inspections were also carried out in September due to complaints about livestock theft, resulting in criminal charges.”
“The police were notified about the bomb explosion, the patrol car remained there all night and no incidents occurred. According to police data, the meeting between the involved parties was accidental and not a pre-arranged appointment. The police cannot be blamed for not intervening, and we avoided worse outcomes,” he stated characteristically.
Pavlos Marinakis on water shortage
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis began the political editors’ briefing with the critical issue of water shortage, emphasizing that: “Seven strategic action axes are being implemented immediately, aligned with our European commitments. Our goal is to strengthen water supply infrastructure throughout the country, upgrade networks, reduce waste, and reuse water that is currently being lost.”
Specifically, he mentioned: “The government’s commitment concerns protecting water as the supreme public good, as the Prime Minister emphasized at the EYDAP centennial celebration. At the core of this effort is the ‘Evrytos’ plan, which involves the partial diversion of Krikeliotis and Karpenisiotis rivers toward Evinos. This project symbolizes good, unimpeded flow and will fortify Attica for the next 30 years.”
He then referred to a series of positive news in healthcare and in the crucial field of education, where the process of removing approximately 285,000 students from university registries begins with the publication of the Ministerial Decision regulating procedural matters regarding maximum study duration for first-cycle higher education students. Additionally, he mentioned the largest employment subsidy and work experience program ever implemented in the country’s history, launched by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security through the Public Employment Service.
Complete briefing of political editors by Pavlos Marinakis
Good afternoon and good week,
An ambitious investment plan worth 2.5 billion euros will provide the best possible response to the major issue of water shortage. The government’s commitment concerns protecting water as the supreme public good, as the Prime Minister emphasized at the EYDAP centennial celebration.
It concerns our absolute and categorical commitment that EYDAP will remain a public company. It also concerns our commitment that the investments we plan will proceed to ensure we always have the best and cheapest possible water in our country.
In this direction, we are immediately implementing seven strategic action axes aligned with our European commitments. Our goal is to strengthen water supply infrastructure throughout the country, upgrade networks, reduce waste, and reuse water that is currently being lost.
At the core of this effort is the ‘Evrytos’ plan, which involves the partial diversion of Krikeliotis and Karpenisiotis rivers toward Evinos. This project symbolizes good, unimpeded flow and will fortify Attica for the next 30 years.
Similar interventions will occur in other areas of the country with large population concentrations, such as Thessaloniki, and of course on our islands. Already, a total of 151 projects with a budget exceeding 320 million euros are being implemented on more than 40 islands to improve water supply and sewerage.
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We have a series of positive news in healthcare.
First, the average service time for patients in Emergency Departments decreased by 65% during February-October 2025.
The average service time has now been reduced to 3 hours and 30 minutes, substantially improving patients’ experience in emergency departments.
We are not celebrating in any case. The effort continues to further improve National Health System services, as we know there are still cases of significant delays.
Additionally, the Digital Doctor Assistant was launched in the National Electronic Health Record.
The goal is to offer healthcare professionals immediate and comprehensive access to patient data, ensuring time savings, reduced bureaucracy, better coordination of provided care, and facilitation in making medical decisions.
Soon, the Digital Citizen Assistant for Health will be launched, allowing citizens easy, personalized, and secure access to health services and their data.
Meanwhile, the new, not just renovated but innovative Emergency Department of “Attikon” Hospital began operations. The Emergency Department expanded by 800 square meters compared to the original space and now covers 2,500 sq.m., meeting new international operating standards. Examination rooms more than tripled from 10 to 36, significantly reducing waiting time, while the resuscitation room capacity doubled and now has eight positions.
Using Recovery and Resilience Fund resources, we are renovating emergency departments in more than 90 hospitals while simultaneously reconstructing more than 160 health centers.
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In another crucial field, education, the process of removing approximately 285,000 students from university registries begins with the publication of the Ministerial Decision regulating procedural matters regarding maximum study duration for first-cycle higher education students.
The Decision applies to all who completed, after the end of September 2025’s supplementary examination period, the maximum study duration of their School and do not meet the beneficial conditions for granting a two or three-semester extension, according to Law 5224/2025 provisions.
Among the students to be removed who haven’t completed their studies are some who enrolled as early as the 1930s.
It’s worth noting that the new framework provides for those who genuinely wish to complete their studies. Already, approximately 30,000 students have submitted relevant applications regarding the possibility of extending their studies under conditions. However, in many schools, completion of September examination results is still awaited before the exclusive 30-day deadline for extension applications begins.
We are bringing order to a chronic pending issue with the goal of: fairer, modern, and functional universities.
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The largest employment subsidy and work experience program ever implemented in the country’s history is being launched by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security through the Public Employment Service. The program aims to create approximately 50,000 new jobs for unemployed people aged 30 and above.
The new program, worth 220 million euros, aims to address unemployment rates particularly affecting people aged 30 and above, with emphasis on the long-term unemployed, unemployed women, middle-aged unemployed, and those affected by or at risk of poverty who are entitled to Minimum Guaranteed Income. Through the program, social cohesion is strengthened and equal access to the labor market is promoted, while providing opportunities to gain work experience for unemployed people aged 30 and above through six-month placements in private sector companies.
We stand by our fellow citizens and particularly support groups such as the long-term unemployed, middle-aged unemployed, unemployed women, and those affected by or on the verge of poverty. We listen to their needs, facilitate their integration into the labor market, and support them with actions,” declared Labor and Social Security Minister Niki Kerameos.
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The application submission process is underway for the second call for nursery vouchers.
With increased income criteria and the abolition of caps for large families, more children can be enrolled in nurseries.
Indeed, with expanded income criteria, middle-income families are now covered, gaining access to the program for the first time.
Electronic submission of applications for participation in the second call of the action: “Promotion and support of children for their inclusion in preschool education, as well as access for school-age children, adolescents and people with disabilities to creative employment services” concludes on Friday, November 7, 2025.
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Please proceed with your questions.
On postal service closures
Asked about the closure of postal service stores, he stated: “The communication handling by the postal service was misguided. They should have first informed society, parliamentary groups, and parties, then announced which stores would close. This was why the timeline changed without altering the essence of the decision.”
Asked about developments regarding a previous question about Nikos Dendias’s meeting with Haftar, he said: “The meeting between Mr. Dendias and Mr. Haftar is confirmed; there is no secret diplomacy.”
On electricity price increases
“Wholesale prices indeed increased in October, but they were largely absorbed and didn’t reach households and businesses, so there’s no subsidy issue. Our country has the 10th cheapest electricity in retail prices, cheaper than the European average.”
