Debate launched on new civil protection system

Some 10 months after the devastating wildfires that engulfed eastern Attica killing 100 people, the Citizens' Protection Ministry on Thursday launched a public debate on a new draft bill to tackle natural disasters, including the creation of a new national civil protection authority.

According to a ministry announcement, the draft law seeks to "radically restructure the country's civil protection system in line with the standards of advanced countries."

The announcement was made in the runup to local elections, whose main talking points are the role of local authorities in dealing with natural disasters and the responsibility of incumbent officials for last year's fires, as well as the 2017 floods in Mandra, west Attica, which claimed 25 lives.

Critics, moreover, have slammed the government for taking so long to launch the debate on the restructuring of Greece...