Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni Rejects Privatization Claims in Heritage Bill
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni told parliament that culture is a public good and denied accusations that the new heritage bill would privatise Greece’s archaeological sites or monuments. She said the draft law merely reorganises the management of cultural assets and does not transfer ownership to private hands.
The legislation creates an Anonymous Company to handle operations, but it remains a public‑law entity that does not acquire title to monuments. Revenue from the Organization for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources (ODAP) is retained in the public sector; projected earnings for 2022‑2025 reach €758 million, up from €400 million in the 2015‑2018 period, and are earmarked for cultural programmes.
Mendoni criticised opposition statements as “fantasies” and urged criticism be based on the bill’s text rather than speculation.
Entities: Anonymous Company (public legal entity) · Greek Parliament · Lina Mendoni · Ministry of Culture (Greece) · Organization for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources (ODAP)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] ODAP revenue is transferred to the Ministry of Culture for cultural programmes. (ministerial explanation)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The draft law does not transfer ownership or privatise monuments and archaeological sites. (legislative text)
- [● 3 SOURCES] ODAP's total revenues for 2022‑2025 are projected at €758 million. (ministerial data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] ODAP's revenues for 2015‑2018 were €400 million. (ministerial data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The law creates an Anonymous Company that manages cultural assets but does not acquire ownership of monuments. (ministerial clarification)