Municipality of Athens in turmoil over the immigrant issue

The issue of the 300 hunger striking immigrants was raised for the third time in the City Council of the Municipality of Athens. Two proposals were received by the Council but both were rejected.

One proposal came from Mayor George Kaminis, who proposed that the hunger strikers suspend their strike in order to open a dialogue with the state, while the mayor himself would mediate for a way out and a positive outcome in a humane and realistic way.

The other proposal was submitted by the parties of the “People’s Coalition”, the “Open City” by G. Amiras and “ANDARSYA”. The proposal was to adopt a unanimous resolution of the council of the municipality of Thessaloniki, in which the council will express solidarity to the 300 hunger strikers and urge the government to meet their demands.
On both resolutions, the Kaklamanis side entered a blank vote. The camp of Mayor George Kaminis failed to secure a majority, and 6 of the municipal advisors (George Anagnostopoulos, Nelly Papahelas, Rea Galanakis, Maria Kouvelis, Fotis Provatas and Anna Hatziyannakis), voted ‘present’. Thus, the proposal was rejected by difference of one vote.
Afterwards, the deputy mayor responsible for Financial issues, Mr. Anagnostopoulos, tendered his resignation at the mayor’s behest, who later accepted it.

Accordingly, the Deputy Mayor of Planning and Departmental Policy, Fotis Provatas, said that he is resigning his position, since he had voted ‘present’ on the same proposal.

Before the discussion began,Rashid Rafik, one of the hunger strikers, spoke to the municipal councilors, seeking their support to the immigrants' struggle and stating that “the struggle of the hunger strikers has reached breaking point concerning their health”.