- The Association of Professional Taxi Drivers of Heraklion strongly condemns the new passenger transport bill, claiming it harms the sector and serves the interests of big tourism and multinational interests.
- Protests and mobilisation actions will continue in the coming period.
- The Association declares all MPs who voted for Article 52 as “unwanted” and warns that it will remember everyone involved.
In a fiery announcement, the Association of Professional Taxi Drivers of Heraklion has lashed out at the recently passed passenger transport bill, calling it a “tombstone” for their profession that primarily benefits large tourism players and multinationals.
The drivers, who participated in recent strikes and the big demonstration in Syntagma Square on the day of the vote, say the fight is far from over. They promise continued actions, information campaigns, and pressure “in every direction” until the next national elections.
The Full Announcement (translated ad literam):
“We salute the thousands of colleagues who participated in the strikes throughout this period, the thousands of colleagues who, on the day the bill was voted, participated in the huge mobilisation and gathering in Syntagma Square. This whole struggle, carried out in one way or another by the unions and their members across Greece, is a legacy for the next day.
Unfortunately, the tombstone bill for our sector — the bill of ND – KYRANAKIS – MULTINATIONALS — was passed by the ND majority and by two independent MPs elected with the Spartans party.
Among those who voted for it are also the MPs of the ND government majority in the Heraklion prefecture, as well as the ND MPs from the other prefectures of Crete, who obeyed and hid behind party orders and big tourism interests, voting for the bill against the taxi drivers. Be sure that WE WILL NOT FORGET YOU.
We will also not forget the institutional and extra-institutional factors that ‘lent a hand’ in serving the interests of the tourism lobby and the multinationals.
More specifically, WE WILL NOT FORGET those who, with their vote in the Greek Parliament, chose:
- The further legitimisation of theft, arbitrariness, tax evasion, and jungle conditions in passenger road transport.
- The LEGAL PREVENTION by law of substantial controls on the roads of Crete.
- The violent removal of the professional car driver (taxi) from his profession.
WE DO NOT FORGET. Thus, in the coming days, our Association, together with its members, begins a race of mobilisations, actions, pressure on all sides, and a continuous information campaign about the bill and the actions of the government and its interlocutors, which will culminate at the ballot box in the next national elections.
We declare all MPs who voted for Article 52 UNWANTED. We do not want the sector to have any contact or any discussion with them. They chose to support the demands of the multinationals and tourism capital and to become ‘pawns’ of Kyranakis. The discussion ended the moment they pressed the voting button. No more words then — whoever wants to prove they are on our side, now is the time for actions.
And we say CLEARLY to the Prime Minister and his ‘executioner’ Minister, and to all those who supported this law-abortion: do not dare to blackmail the Cretan taxi drivers any longer.
Crete is not the ‘plot’ of any minister, any multinational, or any local factor, and the TAXI is not for sale.
Our struggle will continue by every means and at every level.
The minister’s cynical exhortation to professional taxi drivers to ‘change profession’ is returned to him intact, along with all those who supported this law.
‘Prepare yourselves to change profession, because our sector and the whole society will send you home.’
OUR STRUGGLE CONTINUES. THE GOVERNMENT, THE MULTINATIONALS, and the PIRATES OF VOAK will find us OPPOSITE them. THE KYRANAKIS LAW WILL REMAIN ON PAPER. THE TAXI DRIVERS WILL WIN, SOCIETY WILL WIN
P.S. To all the rest, we say so they know it well: the TAXIS in Heraklion do not participate in underbidding competitions, nor did they, nor will they, participate in the plan to deceive the sector. Whoever consents to the further degradation of the sector in Crete will be considered an accomplice.”
Broader Impact on Transportation
For locals and tourists in Crete, this ongoing conflict between Heraklion taxi drivers and the government continues to create uncertainty on the roads. If drivers escalate protests, launch information campaigns, and consider strikes in the coming months, visitors could face higher taxi fares, fewer cabs available (especially during peak summer hours), longer waits at airports and ports, and possible disruptions in Chania, Heraklion, and other popular spots. Locals who rely on taxis for daily commuting, medical visits, or getting around without a car may also feel the squeeze. While the Association insists the fight is about protecting fair competition and stopping “jungle conditions,” the reality for summer 2026 is that travellers planning trips to Crete should prepare for potential taxi shortages or service interruptions and consider alternatives such as public buses, rental cars, or ride-sharing apps, where available.