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Greek government faces criticism over wildfire response and prevention funding
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) denounced the government's handling of recent wildfires, noting that about 130,000 stremmata burned in Attica and Boeotia and that the annual €100 million allocated for forest‑fire prevention is insufficient. KKE also highlighted costly infrastructure projects in Alexandroupoli, such as port deepening and a new regional road axis, which together exceed €50 million.
Kyriakos Vélopoulos, president of the Greek Solution party, echoed criticism, arguing that the state has not invested adequately in fire prevention. He warned that the worst is yet to come, with floods expected in September–October following the fires. Vélopoulos claimed that 55 % of fires stem from overhead power lines, yet only 2 % of lines have been undergrounded despite funds from the Recovery Fund. He also pointed out the removal of forest rangers, the lack of firebreaks, and the expenditure of hundreds of millions of euros on helicopter rentals for aerial firefighting.
Both parties accuse the government of mismanaging resources and failing to protect citizens from natural‑disaster risks.
Entities
2023 Greek wildfires · AKEL · Alexandroupoli · Communist Party of Greece (KKE) · European Union · Greek Communist Party (KKE) · Greek Recovery Fund · Greek government · Kyriakos Mitsotakis · Kyriakos Velopoulos · New Democracy (Greece) · Nikos Christodoulides
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Forest rangers have been removed. www.tanea.gr · www.megatv.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Hundreds of millions of euros have been spent on helicopter rentals for firefighting. www.tanea.gr · www.megatv.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] 55 % of wildfires are caused by overhead power lines. www.tanea.gr · www.megatv.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 130,000 stremmata burned in Attica and Boeotia. athina984.gr
- [● 2 SOURCES] Floods are expected in September–October following the fires. www.tanea.gr · www.megatv.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Only 2 % of power lines have been undergrounded despite Recovery Fund allocations. www.tanea.gr · www.megatv.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The government allocates about €100 million annually for forest‑fire prevention. athina984.gr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Infrastructure projects in Alexandroupoli cost over €50 million. www.alexpolisonline.com