Alex Tsipras visits Lesbos to address livestock fever crisis

On Monday, 13 July, the president of the Greek Left Unity party, Alex Tsipras, travelled to Lesbos. He met the Regional Governor of the North Aegean, Kostas Mouzouris, the mayors of Mytilene (Panagiotis Christofas) and West Lesbos (Taxiarchis Verros), and held a midday session with local livestock farmers in the municipal hall of Kalloni to discuss problems in the primary sector, especially the outbreak of the afthodos fever affecting animal stock.

Tsipras highlighted infrastructure projects started under the previous SYRIZA government, called for transport subsidies to lower costs for island residents and businesses, and urged faster compensation for affected farmers. The visit concluded in the evening with the “Now We Talk” open‑dialogue event in the “Fânari” area of Mytilene’s right harbour, where he listened to residents’ concerns.

During the same day, the local PASOK‑Movement of Change branch issued a sharply worded statement attacking Tsipras, recalling criticisms of his former premiership and accusing him of neglecting the island’s problems. The party’s attack focused on Tsipras rather than the ruling New Democracy, intensifying political rivalry on the island.