Sharp statement on public administration and the treatment of citizens and businesses
A strong message toward public administration and state officials was delivered by Dodecanese MP of New Democracy, Giannis Pappas, through his public statement titled “The Dodecanese Do Not Need ‘Sheriffs’.”
In his statement, Mr. Pappas criticizes what he describes as excessive strictness, rigid law enforcement, and a lack of empathy toward citizens and local businesses.
“The Dodecanese is a region with deep history, complex social needs, and a decisive contribution to the national economy,” he stressed, highlighting the crucial role of the islands in tourism, employment, and social cohesion in the southeastern Aegean.
The MP underlined that public authority should not operate as a “mechanism of imposition” or a “tool of arrogance,” but rather serve citizens with fairness, balance, and humanity. At the same time, he clarified that no one is asking for tolerance toward illegality, while distinguishing proper law enforcement from what he called “unnecessary strictness” and “administrative excess.”
Special emphasis was placed on the unique conditions of the island economy, with Mr. Pappas noting that local professionals and workers operate under intense pressure, high costs, and constant demands, especially during the tourism season. For this reason, he argued, public administration must see “the person behind the file” and “the family behind the business.”
Concluding his statement, the Dodecanese MP stressed that the islands are not asking for special treatment, but for respect toward their unique conditions and an administrative approach worthy of a modern European state.
