March 18 () –
The head of the Greek National Police, Constantinos Skoumas, has been relieved of his post following strong protests across the country over the derailment of a train in the central municipality of Tempi earlier this month, which killed at least 57 people.
His replacement will be Lazaros Mavropoulos, as announced this Saturday by the National Security Council (KYSEA). The new appointment “aims to improve and implement in a more positive and effective way the modern operational plans of the Hellenic Police for the safety of citizens”, the institution has made known in a statement collected by the newspaper ‘Kathimerini’ in its edition digital.
In an open letter published in the Greek media after learning of his dismissal, Skoumas has lamented the “abrupt termination” of his mandate and has denounced the resentment that his decisions have caused in “certain centers of power.”
“I am leaving with dignity and a clear conscience and I submit to the trial of all the facts, which will be clarified,” he added in a statement collected by ‘Protothema’.
Despite the harshness of the clashes with the protesters, the Greek Police have fared poorly in their response to the protests, after riot police were recorded charging peaceful groups of people gathered in Syntagma Square and a police vehicle hit a group of people who were trying to block a street.
Protests following the derailment have increased pressure on the country’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, ahead of elections in May.
Precisely this Saturday the president has intoned a ‘mea culpa’ for the police response to the protests. “We will courageously admit our mistakes, we will assume the responsibilities assigned to us,” he said in statements collected by Skai.
