Distinguished athletes who were appointed in the public sector due to their success in sport, such as Olympic medalists, are to face the suspension measure along, as the Joint Ministerial Decree does not make any provisions.
Rough estimates indicate that about 900 athletes took advantage of law 2725/99 and were appointed in the public sector. The Minister of Administrative Reform Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with representatives of the Greek Olympian Association (SEO) and explained that there can be no exceptions, but promised that this might be revised in the future.
SYRIZA condemned “the dismissal of working athletes […], does not recognize the layoffs and does not distinguish them from other social groups that suffer”. The opposition claims that the Samaras-Venizelos administration is “attempting to divide the athletes in order to silence voices of discontent”.
