Positive with Slight Reservations: Giannakopoulou on Doukas’ Proposal for Attica’s Rescue Plan

Giannakopoulou’s Response to Doukas on Attica’s Rescue Plan

PASOK’s internal dynamics, ahead of the October intra-party elections, continue even in August. In response to Haris Doukas’ letter to his fellow candidates regarding the rescue plan for Attica after the fires, Nadia Giannakopoulou, a candidate for the party leadership and an MP, responded.

Giannakopoulou finds Doukas’ proposal “interesting and positive.” In her reply, she emphasizes that “a unifying spirit and internal party agreement is both my personal stance and the PASOK we desire. Union in substance and practice, not for public relations or superficial appearances.”

In her sharply worded response, she states, “As society itself has shown, it’s clearly better to act rather than to advertise that we are acting. Ultimately, any unifying proposal has my agreement, but not at the cost of serving personal or political gain.”

Finally, Giannakopoulou reiterates her own proposal, which involves “organizing joint events with all PASOK presidential candidates on specific thematic topics per region, through which we will have the opportunity to co-formulate and draft plans for each region individually, taking into serious account the particularities of each area and genuinely addressing local problems, reconnecting with society from the start.”

Full Response by Nadia Giannakopoulou

Dear Haris,
I find your proposal regarding the preparation of a plan for the rescue of Attica interesting and positive.

It is important that each candidate for PASOK’s presidency puts forward proposals aimed at improving the quality of life for Greek citizens. After all, the submission of my own detailed program for public consultation aims precisely at this.

In my intervention regarding the devastating consequences of the recent fire in Attica, I also presented thoughts and proposals, as did other candidates. It is clear that Attica is at risk both from what has happened during the tenure of this ineffective government and from the cumulative effects of the last decade.

It is therefore necessary for PASOK to emerge as a force that intervenes with comprehensive proposals for what is affecting the country and its prospects, the environment, and the quality of life of its citizens. This is, after all, a fundamental characteristic of any party that does not limit itself to the role of a protest and denunciation party but aspires to governance.

It is indeed essential that PASOK’s work sectors collaborate with additional scientists and technocrats and incorporate the very interesting proposals submitted by candidates and other party members to develop a comprehensive plan for Attica.

The unifying spirit and internal party agreement is both my personal line and the PASOK we want. Union in substance and practice, not for public relations or superficial appearances.

As society itself has shown, it is clearly better to act rather than to advertise that we are acting.

In conclusion, any unifying proposal has my agreement, but not at the cost of serving personal or political gain.

Two Observations:

FIRST: Any plan must be put to public consultation and feed into real dialogue processes among stakeholders, scientific associations, parties, universities. I particularly note that Local Government can have a valuable and distinct contribution.

SECOND: It is necessary to address, as a party, the overall consequences of the Climate Crisis for the entire country. We must consider its impacts, both through fires like the one in Attica, and through phenomena such as drought observed in our islands and mainland Greece, leading to multiplying problems for the residents of these areas, who see their quality of life plummet.

We need to address its effects on tourism, agricultural production, and work out a comprehensive new development model for the country that considers the new conditions, new risks, and the opportunities in the era of digitization, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

In this direction, I believe a proposal I had submitted becomes even more significant.

I am referring to the organization of joint events with all PASOK presidential candidates on specific thematic topics per region, through which we will have the opportunity to co-formulate and draft plans for each region individually, taking into serious account the particularities of each area and genuinely addressing local problems, reconnecting with society from the start.

I believe that organizing these thematic conferences by PASOK will provide an opportunity for an expanded public dialogue that will also stimulate citizens’ interest in public affairs, contribute to broad participation of various forces in the dialogue and participation in our elections.

Sincerely,
Nadia Giannakopoulou

Haris Doukas’ Letter to His Fellow Candidates

Dear Anna, Yannis, Michalis, Nadia, Nikos, Pavlos,

Attica, after the latest devastating fire, is definitively entering the high-risk zone for its viability.

It has lost 37% of its peri-urban forests in just the last eight years, according to Copernicus data.

Its underground water resources are nearly exhausted, according to Professor E. Lekkas.

Sixty percent of its land is covered by residential areas.

The risk of desertification of Attica’s land is almost visible, according to Professor Christos Zerefos, the National Representative for Climate Change.

The residents of Attica are already paying a heavy price. More than 3,000 deaths annually, in Athens alone, are linked to poor air quality, according to a related 2021 study published in “The Lancet Planetary Health.”

The Mitsotakis government does not want and cannot reverse this catastrophic course.

Despite the well-documented proposals of relevant bodies, just a year ago, it legislated a new forest protection plan, keeping the forestry services in a marginal role. It failed to absorb more than 1% of the already very low Recovery Fund funds for Civil Protection. It legislated inadequately for prevention, resulting in the familiar images of piles of dry branches that citizens rushed to collect from plots and homes, remaining on the streets of dangerous areas.

Despite municipal reactions, it legislated the New Building Code, adding volumes of concrete to already densely populated cities.

It is preparing to bring to Parliament a new law that will allow unconditional construction in out-of-plan areas.

It responds with band-aids to the drought problem, while Attica’s reservoirs are dangerously emptying.

The flood protection of Attica, with the creation of a unified flood protection network, remains on paper.

It is clear that Attica needs an Immediate Rescue Plan.

A plan that will contribute to the reconstruction of affected areas and shield the entire Basin against the serious threats posed by the climate crisis.

The “executive state” of Mr. Mitsotakis, as proven in Thessaly, Evia, and Evros, cannot.

PASOK now needs to take a major initiative to defend the right of all citizens to live in a safe, healthy environment.

We know, and we can. We already did it when our well-documented proposals became the basis of the country’s first climate law.

I urge you to take the initiative to develop a Rescue Plan for Attica, utilizing European resources, modern scientific tools, scientific bodies, civil society, and Local Government. A plan that will include comprehensive and modern solutions for prevention, restore affected areas, and primarily implement the resilient future of Attica.

I propose:

• The creation of a task force that will begin preparing this plan.
• This team should consist of members of the scientific community, civil society, and Local Government officials and commit to submitting their conclusions to us 90 days from now.
• The coordination of the team should be undertaken by the Secretary of PASOK’s Environment Sector, Professor Panagiotis Dimopoulos, one of the most recognized scientists in the field of the environment in Greece and Europe, whom I know enjoys the recognition and respect of us all.

I suggest that this plan, regardless of the outcome of the October 6th elections, be presented to the citizens and become the roadmap that PASOK will pursue for its implementation, both inside and outside Parliament.

This goal, which essentially concerns the survival of 40% of Greeks living in Attica, needs to unite us all to make it a reality.

PASOK knows how to fight difficult battles.

The battle for the survival of Attica and its residents is one of the most challenging, complex, but also the most imperative.

Faced with this challenge, I call on us to unite our forces and defend the inalienable right of citizens to live with their families in a safe and healthy environment.

There is no luxury of time.

With comradely greetings,
Haris Doukas

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