With today’s announcement, Uber announced the indefinite suspension of the Uber X ridesharing service operations, due to the government’s new and extremely negative bill, which was recently passed in parliament.

From 2015 until today, over 450,000 Greeks and tourists chose this application for their transport. Uber X provided employment opportunities to hundreds of citizens in a conjuncture where unemployment is by far the biggest social issue in our country.

Now, Greek citizens and visitors, as well as the people who were looking for an employment opportunity that matches their needs and abilities, will have one less option to choose from – and that’s due to today’s ideological government and for the immediate benefit of the powerful taxi unions which, as any retrogressive group, use political influence to ensure that they are shielded against competition and innovation. Of course, at the same time, the message to any possible investor, foreign or domestic, is obvious: Do not attempt to invest in Greece, if you are not willing to bow before its beneficiaries and get involved in its politics.

Uber X’s suspension in Greece is a loss for freedom, a loss for freedom of choice for the consumers and workforce, a loss for the legislation whose priority is serving the public rather than the benefits of rent-seekers. However, these freedom defeats are always temporary. And society always moves faster than the bureaucrats who determine our lives.

KEFiM is committed to continue, with even more conviction, to struggle for the obvious – for the dominance of liberal ideals in the Greek economy, society and every aspect of the public. And Uber X’s operation, as well as all other ridesharing services and implementers of participatory economy is for us a significant factor on the path to freedom.