Position on the events of the public debate in Kythera, against the background of the freedom of the press and on the occasion of the serious allegations by the publisher of Kythera.News, gets the municipal combination “Kythera - Antikythera, We Live Here”.
In the relevant press release, the faction of the minor opposition, makes reference to «authoritarian and undemocratic behaviour of the mayor» of Kythera, which, according to the communication, is within the limits «behavior of an authoritarian banana leader».
The faction takes the opportunity to accuse the mayor of choosing to meet the collective bodies of the municipality (City Council and the Economic Committee) by rotation, abolishing the in-person meeting and, instead, imposing decision-making by mail.
At the same time, he scolds Mr. Harhalakis for his aggressive attitude towards the media and ordinary citizens who criticize him, calling on him to «harmonize with his institutional role».
Finally, the faction stresses its decision to «creative contribution» to the community of Kythera through proposals where required and criticism where necessary, while it does not fail to reproach the Municipal Authority for covering the government on the issue of recruitment of staff in small municipalities such as that of Kythera.
The following is the announcement of the party:
«The revelations of the Kythera News website for threats , regarding a reportage article on the waste situation in St. Pelagia, is worrying but is not an isolated event.
In recent years we have all experienced a particularly authoritarian and ultimately undemocratic behaviour of the Mayor (which, most importantly, is directed against the democratic composition and convergence on the island and objectively against the progress of our country):
-Upgrades democratic institutions (such as the City Council and the Finance Committee). It has abolished face-to-face meetings and (in violation of the relevant provisions) has imposed decision-making by mail... (avoiding in the most important decisions any interaction, discussion and convergence, turning members especially of the OC into observers who simply vote yes or abstain
-Threatens by suing local media and spreading defamatory accusations against them (that they «get it»).
-Exercising to the maximum extent possible its right to directly commission projects (e.g. tourism promotion, construction projects) without any discussion in the Board of Directors on objective criteria, performance targets that would probably, with everyone's contribution, improve the performance of the relevant expenditure
-On the contraryI with unkind expressions against anyone who criticises him.
He reached the point of arguing with particularly aggressive expressions with citizens who «dared» to express a different opinion on the collection of waste, on the lighting in Kapsali, on the fire in Agia Pelagia, etc. He has a behaviour that is not in keeping with his office and is reminiscent of the behaviour of an authoritarian «banana republic» leader.
We call on the Mayor to abandon such attitudes and harmonize with his institutional role.
We inform him that attempts to «strangle» any opposing voice will not go unanswered. The citizens of Kythera will not tolerate «Ludovician» behaviour from anyone. Full stop...
We will continue our creative contribution and with our specific proposals for the good of our island (which is why we demand democratic processes to be able to contribute) and our criticism of any undemocratic behaviour.
We will continue to stigmatize, and not cover up, the government that does not support small municipalities with staff and unreasonably delays the necessary recruitments, creating intractable problems in all sectors.
And finally, indeed, the people of Kythera are the judge of all of us.
05/05/2022
The councillors
George Didymiotis
Dimitris Kontoleon
Manos Trifyllis
