Traffic disruption drops thanks to new demo law
A total of 83 street demonstrations have been staged so far this month and police authorities shut down traffic on only 16 occasions, in line with criteria set by legislation introduced by the conservative government last year.
The data were presented on Friday by Citizen Protection Minister Takis Theodorikakos, who stressed that he will ensure the implementation of the laws regarding marches in the center of the capital.
The new regulations were heralded at the time as an attempt to regulate demonstrations which the government said caused frequent disruptions to the public and affected commerce.
“This measure will be strictly observed, because this is what the vast majority of Greek citizens want and this is what democratic legitimacy dictates,” Theodorikakos said.
“I remember being criticized by some fellow citizens in the first days because I insisted on implementing the measure as 100, 200 and 300 people can’t just block the streets with marches and rallies, either in Athens or in any other city,” he said.
“Citizens have the right, an inalienable democratic right to hold rallies, to mobilize, but this cannot be to the detriment of the order and security of all other citizens who should not suffer from such situations,” he added.
