In a fierce clash between Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and Athens Mayor Chrysi Douka, Charis Doukas, the field of responsibility for cleaning the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was changed, a few hours after the amendment, with which the Prime Minister's Office passed the «hot potato» to the most «popular» minister in the government. The Ministry of National Defense and the Municipality of Athens exchanged a series of announcements until late last night, showing that Nikos Dendias has been placed in a very difficult position.
It all started after yesterday's meeting between the Minister of Defense and Haris Doukas, which focused on the responsibilities for the Unknown Soldier and, in particular, the burning issue of cleanliness. It should be noted that Nikos Dendias also met with the Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis.
«Good luck to them.»
After the meeting, the mayor of Athens posted on social media that «I met today with the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias. During the meeting, I reiterated my well-known positions regarding the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. According to the Prime Minister's statement in Parliament and based on the amendment that was passed, as of today, the responsibility for the care of the Monument and its surroundings lies solely with the government. Good luck to them.».
Dendias« initial response and the »entry" of a private individual
A few hours later, the Ministry of National Defense issued a statement in response to Haris Doukas, stating that «according to Article 102 of the Constitution and the law, the local government is solely responsible for cleaning, and specifically, the Municipality of Athens is responsible for the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. Following the public statement by the Mayor of Athens that, in his opinion, ’responsibility for the Monument lies exclusively with the Government,« the Ministry of National Defense cannot allow the degradation of this place of remembrance and honor for those who fought for the Nation and the Fatherland.
At the same time, it is noted that «in this regard, it will proceed with the assignment of cleaning the area to a third party, for as long as necessary. As the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, pointed out in his recent statement, respect for the dead of the National Struggles and for history is a collective duty and responsibility of us all.».
New announcement from Doukas
Following the initial response from the Ministry of Defense and Nikos Dendias, the mayor of Athens returned late last night with a new announcement stating that «Yesterday, the government proposed and voted on an amendment assigning the care and cleaning of the Unknown Soldier's area to the Ministry of National Defense. Today, the Ministry of National Defense informs us that, according to Article 102 of the Constitution, the Municipality of Athens has sole responsibility for cleaning. You can draw your own conclusions. Unfortunately, the respect required for the Monument is still lacking...».
The pressured Dendias persists
Late in the evening, the Ministry of Defense issued a second statement in response, showing that Nikos Dendias is in a very difficult position after the “trap” set for him by Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The latest announcement notes that “with regard to the announcement by the Municipality of Athens, the Ministry of National Defense points out the obvious:
The legal responsibility for the Monument of the Unknown Soldier consists of ensuring that it fulfills the purpose for which it was established. Cleanliness, according to Article 102 of the Constitution, is a local matter and falls exclusively within the competence of the municipal authority. Woe betide us if cleanliness fell within the constitutional mission of the Armed Forces! Their mission is quite different.
It is clear that Nikos Dendias is under considerable pressure from the Prime Minister's Office, as while he invokes the Constitution regarding the municipality's responsibility for cleaning, he has simultaneously appointed a “private individual” to oversee cleaning. Therefore, based on the ministry's announcements, the Minister of Defense is acting unconstitutionally. More importantly, beyond Nikos Dendias' stance, there is an assumption by the Ministry of Defense that the government's amendment contains unconstitutional elements.
