Interview with Harhalakis: Citizens support us, we are going for a third term

Interview with the newspaper «Paraskinio» and on its website paraskhnio.gr, was given by Mayor of Kythera, Mr. Efstratios Harhalakis. In it, he refers to the significant progress that has been made during his tenure in the area of financing development projects Regarding Kythira, he expresses skepticism about the announcements made at the recent K.E.D.E. Conference, since, as he says, «announcements cost nothing» and expects the central government to relieve municipalities of the financial burden they have shouldered during the pandemic.

He also expresses pride in the collaboration with other municipalities within the framework of the Islands Regional Unit Cooperation Network, thanks to which «public and private projects are being implemented,» highlights the work of the landfill, and refers to the projects that have been submitted to the «ANTONIS TRITSIS» Program, while he does not fail to identify as major problems, on the one hand, the time-consuming processes involved in the design and development of projects and, on the other hand, the regulatory framework governing their licensing.

Finally, when asked about the possibility of running for a third term as mayor, he responds—indirectly but clearly— in the affirmative, explaining that he does not want to jeopardize the progress made in Kythira’s development—the result of his work as mayor, which is the product of hard work— a fact recognized by the majority of residents, who, after all, support him.

Below is the full interview with Mr. Charhalakis in the George Laimos.

What infrastructure projects does the Municipality of Kythira need? Which ones are currently underway, and which ones have you planned?;

In 2014, when we took over the administration of the municipality, the annual budget was 6.5 million, with zero funding from the Public Investment Program (PIP), the Region, or the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF)! Today, we have funded projects totaling 38 million euros, and we expect 15 million from the «Tritsis» Program. We have completed major projects in road construction, water supply, urban renewal, street lighting, buildings, sports facilities, and playgrounds. Similar projects are currently underway and will be completed soon. At the same time, we have scheduled more than 22 public tenders by next April! Most importantly, however, in my opinion, is the waste management project, which now operates exemplarily thanks to the contribution of EDSNA. Kythira and Antikythira have a state-of-the-art landfill; EU fines were lifted three years ago, and our municipality has finally been freed from the burden of waste management. Under the «Tritsis» Program, we have submitted projects for wastewater management, water supply, building infrastructure, electromobility, and feasibility studies for major projects, such as the Indoor Gymnasium. In a few months, we will have the study for the slaughterhouses ready—a 40-year-old unresolved issue for Kythira. At the same time, we are prioritizing projects for the next decade, with the goal of securing funding from the Recovery Fund, the new NSRF, and the new Public Investment Program.

As the mayor of an island municipality, are you satisfied with the conclusions and announcements made at the recent KEDE Conference?;

Announcements are always good—because they cost nothing! We’ve obviously heard some very important remarks, particularly regarding local government finances and the constitutional status of elected officials. Because, however, I have been in local government for nearly 20 years and have attended more than 10 conferences of KEDE and PED (and the former TEKDNA), I always keep my expectations low. I am certain that the political leadership genuinely wants to help local government, and we will wait for these announcements to be put into action immediately. It is, however, tiresome and rather disappointing that at every KEDE conference we discuss the same problems and say, «It’s getting better every year.» The pandemic has created enormous problems for municipalities, primarily of a financial nature, and, despite the significant support provided to date by the Ministry of the Interior, much more needs to be done. Municipalities have once again shouldered the heavy burden of providing social relief. Now it is the state’s turn to repay them.

Cooperative Network of Municipalities in the Attica Islands Regional Unit. Please tell us more about the Network. Ultimately, does joining forces in local government help? Does it work?;

I am very proud of this collaboration. In 2016, the eight mayors of the Regional Unit of the Attica Islands (Salamina, Aegina, Agistri, Poros, Troizinia-Methana, Hydra, Spetses, and Kythira), together with the then-Deputy Regional Governor, Mr. P. Hatzipero, proceeded to establish the Attica Islands Municipalities Cooperation Network, with the initial goal of implementing the «Leader» Program in our municipalities. Today, just five years later, public and private projects totaling 9.3 million euros in public spending are underway in all eight municipalities. These include projects in culture, urban renewal, public space management, port infrastructure, and private investments in the restaurant industry, tourism, and the primary sector. On Kythira, for example, olive oil and honey cooperatives, wineries, tourism, and manufacturing are receiving significant support. Furthermore, under Law 4674/20, the Network, as a local government body, provides technical assistance to its member municipalities in the critical area of project development, in a flexible yet fully compliant manner that yields tangible results.

What opportunities do funding instruments such as the «Antonis Tritsis» program, the Green Fund, the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), and the Recovery Fund offer local governments? How do you make use of them?;

Municipalities benefit significantly from all these funding programs, which did not exist in previous years. I recall that in the past, the only sources of funding for municipalities were the CAP, SATA, and the CSF, but only for those municipalities that were able to take advantage of them. Today, there are many more funding opportunities. Where we fall short, however, is in the processes of planning and developing projects—issues that people often do not understand, or perhaps are not interested in, and quite rightly so. The big challenge, then, is to enable municipalities—especially small ones, mountainous and island municipalities, to take advantage of all these programs and receive technical and administrative support so that their projects can move forward without having to wait two or three years for a feasibility study. And at this point, we need to have a serious discussion about the permitting framework for municipal projects: Who, how, and when should approvals be granted for municipal projects? Why should approval from the Archaeological Service or the Forest Service be required for something as simple as backfilling or clearing a rural road? There are public agencies whose authority even exceeds that of the government itself! This must stop, and immediate solutions are needed.

You are the chair of the Committee on Islands and Cohesion Policy of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE). What initiatives have you undertaken in this capacity?;

We have compiled a list of institutional changes and measures to improve the day-to-day operations of island municipalities. We propose specific legislative initiatives, such as, for example, allowing all mayors, regardless of population, to have a dedicated secretary, the institution of a non-elected deputy mayor (similar to non-parliamentary ministers), streamlining the excessive bureaucracy involved in enacting local traffic regulations, the hiring of scientific advisors at Port Authorities, and many other measures.

Do you intend to run for another term?;

I certainly have no intention of stepping back from the public eye! The majority of citizens support our work because they know and see that progress is being made as a result of hard work. I do not wish to jeopardize this work in any way, and I am ready to ensure the continuation of the development path of the Municipality of Kythira, which we began in 2014.