Anything but loyal to its pledge for meritocracy, New Democracy appointed an 80-year-old retired teacher as the new governor of the public hospital in the city of Karditsa, West Macedonia.
Apparently the man’s top skills to claim the job and leave behind dozens of other qualified candidates was that he has been a long term cadre of and permanent candidate for New Democracy. In his ND-previous life, he was candidate on elections list of nationalist parties “Independent Greeks” and LAOS.
Keen to grab a new professional challenge, Konstantinos Pateras had applied for the job and was selected to run the hospital. Although there were reportedly 50 other candidates, much younger and more qualified than him.
The new hospital governor who makes PM Mitsotakis’ promise for a “modern, renewed staff state” come true, said that he will keep the salary of his new post rather than his pension, as he cannot have both.
According to local media, the appointment triggered “heated comments” in New Democracy organizations in Central Greece.
Speaking to a local radio from his hometown Trikala, Pateras said that Prime Minister “Mitsotakis had promised me this position.”
The former high school principal is not the only “future promising” hospital governor. In the overhaul launched by the Health Minister, one can find also several retirees from the Greek Armed Forces.
There is hope, though. Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias said that hospital governors could be dismissed in 3 months, if they do not meet the targets. He claimed today, that 5,000 other candidates were standby for these jobs.
“5,000 political promises” in the usual Greek trade “votes for public positions,” we could dare assuming?
So much about a modern Greek state where gerontocracy replaces the promised meritocracy.
PS I am tempted to comment that it is “very convenient and practical” to appoint an 80-year-old as hospital governor, then he can check first hand how Greece’s public hospitals operate. But I am not that mean.
On second thought one can see a positive aspect: New Democracy gives second chance to elderly..
UPDATE: Following a public outcry, Pateras was forced to resign reportedly by the Prime Minister and the Health Minister on Tuesday morning. The woman to replace him in the public hospital is reportedly also a candidate with New Democracy who failed to be elected.
