Parade only with guests and journalists

"This year's parade in Syntagma is equivalent to Polytechneio for the police, and within this framework we have devised our plan. Whoever exceeds the limits will be arrested, if some extremist groups try to break up the parade, riot police will make use of their batons and chemicals, while we will proactively check individuals who carry backpacks. We are looking for molotovs, tomatoes, yoghurts and eggs...".

These were the words used by a police officer to describe briefly to protothema.gr the police plans for the March 25 parade in Syntagma. According to reports, the mandate given by the generals is that the parade must take place at all costs. The platform of the officials will be a sterile site and nobody will be able to come close

For the first time there will be invitations and accreditations for journalists to get closer to the spot, as for all other citizens it will be a forbidden area. Along the parade there will be police forces that will make their presence felt, and what causes concern is the fact that police will have tear gas, batons and stun-flash grenades at their disposal.

There are consecutive meetings at the ministry of Citizen Protection, and what is being reiterated is that events similar to those in Thessaloniki should not happen. For this reason, more than 7,000 police officers from Attiki with 40 squads of riot police will be operating in the area of Syntagma.

Only the duty officer, the necessary patrols and guards will be available at local police stations, while DI.AS. and Delta teams will be in full deployment, with a Police helicopter coordinating the investigations by air. Right since the beginning of the week the State Security and anti-terror police have been decoding suspect signals and information from right-wing groups or anti-authoritarians who may try to creep into the crowd to cause trouble and riots.

Finally, it should be noted that there is a specific plan in the event of episodes, booing, object throwing etc., for the safe escape of the officials so that images of shame will not be recorded this time.