The Greek government is facing strong criticism following the announcement that the state owned postal service, Hellenic Post ELTA, will close 204 of its branches across the country.
The move, which forms part of a cost cutting plan, has sparked backlash from citizens, local authorities and opposition parties who view the measure as harmful to public service delivery.
The closures represent around 45 percent of ELTA’s current network, with 40 branches shutting down in the Athens and Piraeus region and 164 others expected to close in different parts of the country. The decision has raised concerns especially in smaller towns, islands and remote areas where residents depend on post offices for essential services.
Many regional leaders and community groups have called on the government to reconsider the plan, arguing that it will limit access to postal and banking services and isolate vulnerable populations. They warned that several communities already have limited infrastructure and the removal of post office branches will further widen the service gap.
Defending the decision, Greece’s Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said “difficult decisions must be taken” to save the postal service from collapse. He explained that the number of posted letters in the country has dropped to only 10 percent of what it was ten years ago, making it unsustainable to keep all branches open.
ELTA management stated that the branches selected for closure were those with low activity and high running costs, with some recording losses of over €150,000 annually. The company assured the public that postal services will continue through mobile units, partner outlets and postal carriers assigned to cover rural and hard to reach locations.
Despite these assurances, critics insist that the move undermines the government’s responsibility to maintain universal access to public postal services. They argue that the scale and timing of the closures reflect a return to austerity policies rather than prioritising the needs of citizens who depend on these services for daily activities.