Head-on clash in Kythira: The mayor’s sharp response to the «accusations» made by the six presidents

The challenge posed to the six Municipal Community Presidents, who, in a recent open letter, denounced «neglect» and «institutional suffocation» The Mayor of Kythira, Efstratios Charhalakis, responded to the Municipal Authority. In a lengthy and scathing post, Mr. Charhalakis rejects the arguments in the letter, refers to a «tearful descent,» and directly accuses them of an irresponsible attitude and a futile refusal.

The Presidents' Initiatives and Stance on the Budget

The mayor is focusing on the meeting to approve the 2026 budget and technical program, rebuking the committee chairs—especially those from the minority—for choosing to cast an «irresponsible and impersonal “present” vote,» despite the fact that major projects for their regions had been included.

By way of example, it states that the President of Aroniadika was given assurances regarding a permanent solution to the water supply through the Diakofto desalination project (a €1,350,000 project) and the maintenance of the Community Center; in Logothetianika, a new daycare center is being put out to bid (€450,000), while in the Community of Chora (Kythira), new sewer and water supply networks are being completed. Despite all this, Mr. Charhalakis claims, the local mayors refused to vote in favor of the budget.

«Blatant lies about the lump-sum advance payment»

It places particular emphasis on the pressing issue of the lump-sum advance payment, clarifying that, under the law, this is intended exclusively for urgent and emergency expenses (e.g., network malfunctions, damage to playgrounds) and not for routine tasks such as painting, whitewashing, cleaning, or rural road construction. The mayor emphasizes that anyone who makes such a promise is telling «blatant lies,» while also noting that for basic infrastructure (water supply, rural road construction, municipal lighting), the Municipality already maintains annual contracts.

A Message of Collaboration, Drawing on an Example from the Past

Mr. Charchalakis concludes his remarks while leaving the door to his office open, however. Citing as an example the close, cross-party cooperation he had previously enjoyed with former President Karavas, George Tsakos —even though he came from a different political faction—he calls on the protesting presidents to follow this example, set aside misinformation and disputes, and work together for the good of the region.

The following is the Mayor of Kythira’s post, reproduced verbatim:

LOCAL PRESIDENTS AND RESPONSIBILITY

In this video, you can watch the Board of Directors meeting to approve the 2026 Budget and Technical Program of the Municipality of Kythira. During these special meetings, the Presidents of the Municipal Communities—who, naturally, fair, and self-evident—to speak, and they are entitled to vote only on items directly related to their respective communities.

A few days ago, we all read a tear-jerking statement signed by only 6 of the 14 Municipal Community Presidents, in which — in no uncertain terms — they absolve themselves of all authority and responsibility and arrive at the familiar and overused conclusion that «it’s all the mayor’s fault.».
But is that really the case?;

The video is worth watching.

In this regard, the extremely likable (and I mean that) President of the Aroniadika Municipal Community, Mr. Manolis Mavromatis, asks the Mayor what projects have been included in the 2026 Municipal Budget for his area, so that he can decide whether or not to vote for him. The President raises the issue of water shortages in Skliri and several other local concerns. The Mayor, in his response—as well as in his general remarks during this particular meeting—is clear: the long-standing problem of adequate water supply to the Community of Aroniadika and all the settlements supplied by the Skliri reservoir is being DEFINITIVELY resolved with the new water supply network from the Diakofto desalination plant, which has been included in the budget at a cost of €1,350,000 with funding from the Ministry of Environment and Energy. A very large new water supply network was constructed in the area under the TRITSIS Program, and the general budget line item allocated for the maintenance of municipal properties provides for the complete renovation of the Community Community Center in Aroniadika.

In short, the President received clear answers to all the questions he raised.
And what did he end up doing?;
Did he vote for the budget?;
NO!

Vote for the irresponsible and impersonal «PRESENT»—meaning «I have no opinion on anything,» «I don’t care about anything,» «I neither agree nor disagree,» «do whatever you want»! Because that’s what «PRESENT» means. Nothing more, nothing less.

But the other presidents who were elected as part of the minority parties did the same.
For example, in Logothetiana, we are putting the new daycare center out to bid with €450,000 in funding from the Region, but the President did not vote in favor of the budget.
In the Community of Kythira, a massive new sewer system is nearing completion (Kalamos, Stavros, Varipatianika, Kapsali, etc.), and new water supply networks (Xeroniamata, Kapsali to Chora)
etc., but the local President did NOT vote in favor of the budget.

I mentioned Potamos and Agia Pelagia publicly a short while ago, so I won’t go over them again.
And I would especially like to address the issue of the lump-sum advance payment, because there is a great deal of misinformation here as well. According to Decision No. 62038/September 5, 2019, of the Minister of the Interior «any expense related to the responsibilities assigned to the Communities by law or delegated to them by the municipal council may be paid from the fixed advance payment, such as: a) Expenses for the immediate repair of URGENT damage to the water supply and sewerage network (Law 3852/1010, Article 82, case c), b) Expenses for the URGENT repair of faults in the municipal street lighting network (as in subparagraph (d) above), (c) The cost of URGENT repair work on playground equipment and facilities in general, when the damage could endanger the safety of children (as in subparagraph (e) above), (d) The cost of URGENT cleaning work on streets, squares, parks, and public municipal spaces in general (Law 3852/2010, Article 83, paragraph 2, subparagraph (d))’.

Since I pride myself on having a fairly good command of Greek, the situation is clear: whitewashing, weeding streets, painting, and the ongoing maintenance of buildings, general cleaning and upkeep of public spaces CANNOT be paid for out of the fixed advance payment because they are NOT emergency tasks, but rather routine tasks, which are repeated annually. Therefore, whoever has misled the Presidents into believing that they could use the fixed advance payment to pay daily wages for rural road construction, concrete paving, painting and whitewashing, cleaning, etc., has told them blatant lies.

And also:
1. We have an annual contract covering the entire island for water supply repairs. The current request for proposals is already out.
2. For rural road construction, we have an annual contract covering the entire island.
3. We have an annual contract covering the entire island for the maintenance of playgrounds and sports facilities.
4. We have an annual contract for streetlights covering the entire island.
5. The streetlight system is not repaired by the municipality, but by HEDNO.
I’ll conclude with a comment I should have made years ago.
Because, thankfully, there are also people on the island who aren't narrow-minded and who don't readily conform to norms and orders.

In 2014, when I was elected mayor—during a period of intense local political polarization—George Tsakos was elected president of the Karava Community. He was elected as part of the largest opposition party, not mine. I’ll say it again: this was a time of intense political polarization—we all remember it. So George was among the first five people who came to my office to meet with me after I took office. He was a man of few words, clear and straightforward: «Mayor, I want to do five things in my village; I don’t care about party politics or politics in general.» So he sat down, we drew up a plan for some projects, set goals, and the result is well known: new water supply infrastructure, renovation of the clinic, renovation of the monument, rural road construction, the construction of a road to the Moudari Lighthouse, new fire safety zones in Gerakari, a new reservoir in Ammo Square—which had a massive water supply problem—and so on. In fact, we were ready to pave the road to Fournoi Beach as well, but unfortunately there was a massive backlash at the time (!).

Let all the protesting presidents take a cue from Tsakos, who put the good of his region above political factions and disputes. He saw the forest rather than the tree. He chose cooperation rather than rejection. He saw the glass as half full rather than half empty.

My office has been, is, and will ALWAYS be open to everyone—elected officials and residents alike. And beyond the projects we can plan, I am willing to explain certain administrative matters to them because I am certain they have been subjected to a great deal of misinformation that leads them to make wrong decisions, decisions that their fellow citizens and neighbors will not easily forgive.
Have a great weekend!