The confrontation continues between the government and taxi owners who decided on Wednesday to extend their strike action, already in its fourth week, protesting against the deregulation of their sector. The decision to continue their mobilisations was reached in a meeting of their union representatives, despite the voices that called for an end to the strike.
Taxi owners’ representatives explained that their decision was based on the fact that the ministry of infrastructure, transport and networks refuses to inform them on the government's intentions as regards to the liberalisation of their profession.
Meanwhile, the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party accused the prime minister of “provocative inaction” as regards the government’s stance vis-a-vis the taxi issue.
ND party spokesman Yiannis Mihelakis stated that the “incomprehensible” stance adopted by Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Minister Yiannis Ragousis apparently serves a central political plan of the government aimed at distracting people’s attention from the urgent problems the country is faced with.
Despite the hardline stance adopted on a national level, taxi owner associations at a local level were on Wednesday announcing an end to their strike action, including those on the islands of Lesvos except in the island's central town of Mytilene and on the island of Rhodes.
Meanwhile, police on Wednesday announced that a total of 7,568 taxi owners throughout Greece have been charged with obstructing traffic and transport or related offences, with up to 100 cases filed in court nationwide since the protests by taxi owners began on July 18.
Thirty-six such cases involving charges against 5,574 individuals have already been submitted to the local prosecuting authorities, they said.
In addition, police have forwarded 6,080 documents advising local regional general secretariats to impose the appropriate administrative penalties.
http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/9/45724
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