The revelation of an arbitrary family house in the woodland of Vravrona area just north of Athens raises serious political if not moral questions about Georgos Papakostaintinou, Greece’s present Minister of the Environment and former Czar of the finance ministry. According to press reports, his mother is the owner of a holiday home in an area under reforestation. Specifically, her home rests at the Hamolias settlement, which is currently under reforestation. Director of Forests of Eastern Attica Anastasios Kazasis was quoted by the “Proto Thema” newspaper as saying that the house is arbitrary and illegal, with a demolition decision hanging over it.
Papakonstantinou’s mother, along with other owners of arbitrary houses in the area, have appealed to justice and the environment ministry in order to legitimise their homes inside the reforestation area. This is kind of ironic, since his ministry has announced that it is going to crack down on arbitrary homes and fine the owners with steep fines. So, the minister is called to decide between the interests of his mother and of the state…
And we all know how difficult it is to say no to mom….
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