SYRIZA Slams Mitsotakis’ Rhodes Visit, Alleging Exclusion Tactics and Pre-Election Showmanship
SYRIZA–Progressive Alliance’s regional committees for the Dodecanese have sharply criticized the Greek government and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis following his recent visit to Rhodes. In a statement, the party accused the government of excluding professional, scientific, and social organizations from official meetings, describing the visit as a carefully staged public relations event rather than a genuine engagement with local society.
According to SYRIZA, the government avoided meaningful dialogue with local stakeholders and failed to address key concerns directly with affected groups. These issues include delays in the implementation of the Transport Equivalent scheme, rising energy and transportation costs, the restoration of reduced VAT rates on the islands, support for seasonal businesses, and the challenges facing Rhodes General Hospital.
The opposition party also accused the government of using the visit to manage public perceptions regarding healthcare conditions on the island and suggested that the prime minister’s statements reflected an early electoral strategy ahead of the 2027 national elections. SYRIZA reaffirmed its support for local organizations and called on the government to replace exclusionary practices with open and substantive dialogue.
