“We protest against the state’s incompetence,” stated a group of demonstrators who gathered outside the Presidential Palace in Nicosia on Monday evening, in response to the wildfire in the mountainous region of Limassol district.
Holding banners with slogans such as “You are dangerously incompetent. Resign” and “You couldn’t even get one plane,” the protesters — most of whom did not appear to belong to any organised group — gathered shortly after 8 p.m. at the exit of the Presidential Palace, voicing their outrage.
Some of them criticised the Police and the media, claiming that they had spread the word that the protest would not take place.
They also spoke about the lack of accountability and referred to government statements claiming preparedness before the outbreak of the fire. Additionally, they pointed to the Parliament’s responsibilities and called for stricter penalties for arson. Among other things, the demonstrators chanted slogans such as “The people demand full accountability.”
A small unit of the MMAD (Emergency Response Unit) was discreetly present during the protest. The demonstrators occupied the pavement without causing any disruption to traffic.
