Yesterday’s meeting of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) turned into a heated debate, centered on the proposed abolition of the second round of local elections, as highlighted in today’s (May 26, 2026) report by the «Journalists» Newspaper" and journalist Stergios Ziampakas.
According to the report, the debate over the new Local Government Code sparked a scathing «indictment» from mayors across the progressive spectrum, led by the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas.
The Feud Between Doukas and Kyrizoglou
Addressing government officials and the leadership of KEDE, Mr. Doukas asked point-blank: «Are you changing the law just so I don’t become mayor?» As the newspaper notes, the Mayor of Athens described the new “alternative vote” system as «mayor-centric, but not democratic,» raising concerns about its unconstitutionality and accusing it of legitimizing «political opportunists» who will seek to engage in illicit deals regarding the second choice.
For his part, KEDE President Lazaros Kyrizoglou defended the change, directing his criticism at Doukas’s election in 2023: «You’re being provocative. You received 14% in the first round. The other candidate received 42%, minus one vote. […] For candidates with 14% to be elected in the second round […] I don’t think that’s a system.».
Livanius's Response
Interior Minister Theodoros Livaniou defended the government’s intentions. According to «Ef.Syn.,» the minister cited the major problem of voter abstention in the second round, arguing that the new model will accelerate policy-based cooperation ahead of the elections. He also refuted claims of a “democratic deficit,” pointing out that similar systems are in place in New York and the United Kingdom.
Warning of 20,000 layoffs
Finally, the newspaper report refers to the fierce reactions sparked by Article 730 of the new Code. The president of POE-OTA, Nikos Trakas, called for the withdrawal of the provision—which designates ministerial officials as parties to court proceedings regarding the permanent hiring of contract workers—warning pointedly that if it is passed, «20,000 workers will be laid off first thing in the morning.“.
