The citizens of Thessaloniki, northern Greece are invited to vote on Sunday in an unofficial referendum concerning water privatization while casting their ballot in the local and regional elections.
In 2011, the Greek government announced its plans to privatize Eyath, the state-run company that provides the city’s 1.5 million residents with water and sanitation services. The denationalization process is underway and two multinational companies have made it to the second phase of the tender for the utility.
The Greek law does not allow for the citizens to be consulted on government policy unless they are ratified by presidential decree or an enhanced majority of MPs. However, the citizens of Thessaloniki believe that the results of the referendum will clearly show that they want water to remain in public ownership.
The decision to privatize the city’s water supply has caused the reaction of several coalition groups, including political parties, trade unions and the Orthodox church. The polls show that over 70% of the citizens are against Eyath’s privatization. They believe that such services must stay public to ensure quality, safety and affordable services under democratic control.
Referendum on water privatization banned
The Greek Ministry of Interior deemed the referendum organized by the city’s municipalities as “illegal.” The Interior Minister, Yiannis Michelakis with a circular sent on Saturday, May 17 to the municipalities of Thessaloniki banned the referendum.
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