«Free Kythira» issued a press release in response to the newspaper "Kythiraika.".

PRESS RELEASE: FREE KYTHIRA

KYTHIRA, October 6, 2023

We didn’t think a response to Mr. Kalligeros was worth our fellow citizens’ time, but since it’s the election season, we don’t want anyone to tell us later that they didn’t vote for us because they weren’t aware…

So here's what the «reputable» newspaper Kythiraika did.

Reality (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPxkR4e6I8o (at 1:01:55)

Question from Adelin:

Why should they vote for you and not someone else?;

Sofios's response:

If you vote for someone else, you're voting for «someone else,», If you vote for me, you'll be voting for all over the world. Because what we’re doing is a joint effort for our islands. And I’m stepping forward right now to guarantee it, a local government run by the people, not by the mayor.

Kythira – May 2023

[…] I heard a rookie candidate repeat the word «clearly» countless times. He obviously hadn’t consulted a communications expert. When asked how he would be different from the others, he said:

«Everyone will know that if I am elected, A. Sofios will be mayor—and no one else.»

And the questions kept coming, and the next one was: «—And what will they know about the others?» «—Well, they’ll know about the others.» Of course!

We are saddened by the fact that a man with Mr. Emm.Kalligeros, with 36 years of experience, the only thing he managed to comment on during a 30-year-old’s first public interview was… repeating the word «clearly.» This, in our view, aside from being (unjustifiable for someone of that age) disrespect toward a young man who decided to put himself in the public eye, also indicates a subconscious need to shift the focus of attention away from the substance of the matter. It may be difficult for the minions of nothingness to deconstruct the content of a speech such as that of the leader of Free Kythira, but this in no way justifies the deliberate attribution of false dialogues to him (or, as Mr. Kalligeros writes in better Greek: ’We do not allow anyone to speculate based on their imagination and to make inappropriate attacks»—yes, we didn't change a single word!").

We gave the newspaper a chance to set the record straight, but all it wrote was:

Kythira, July 2023

«But we're saying the same thing. If you want to interpret it that way, that's your right.».

In other words, no correction and a repetition of the irony.

The recent excuse that the fake dialogue was published in a satirical column might have held water if, elsewhere—on the «more serious» pages of the paper, the interview had been published as a news item (why not even with a mention of Adelin, whom you’ve been acting as if doesn’t exist for years) or at least some basic critical analysis. But there’s a world of difference in journalistic ethics between concealing the essence of a story and mocking someone for something you yourself have invented.

Recognizing that Mr. Kalligeros has not yet been tested by these waters, and taking into account his obvious and public support for the current mayor, we classify him as a non-independent journalist, so we did not see him as having anything to contribute to the pre-election debate we requested (though, as we observed, the other two candidates were afraid to participate).

Enjoy your 36 years in journalism; we “certainly” have plenty of time ahead of us. May we prove ourselves worthy of your legacy.

*We are attaching our proposal for an open public debate among the three candidates—which was not accepted.

FREE CYPRUS

29/09/2023

PUBLIC INVITATION TO A CANDIDATES' DEBATE

We invite you to them κ.Harhalaki and κ.Souri

in open in public television Confrontation

in hall of Kythiraikos Association,

any day of week before the elections wish.

The event will be moderated by Mr. Bahtis, a journalist from Kythira who has not openly expressed any clear political preference (Mr. Prekas, Marselos, and Kalligeros are understandably excluded).

The program will include:

Introduction by the coordinators.

3minutes opening ceremonies Positions held by the 3 candidates (in order of seniority in the public sector 1^os Mr. Charchalakis, 2^os Mr. Souris, 3^os Mr. Sofios).

Duration 1^no part = About 10 minutes

6 circles questions of coordinators as follows:
6 pre-determined thematic sections, each with the same 1 question for each candidate (6 sections × 1 question × 3 candidates = 18 questions) with a response time of 90 seconds.
1 unspecified topic with 1 open-ended question for each candidate from each journalist (2 journalists × 1 question × 3 candidates = 6 questions) with a response time of 90 seconds.

Duration 2^no part = About 45 minutes

2 circles free dialogue with each candidate asking one question to every other candidate (total number of questions: 2 × 2 × 3 candidates = 12) and a response time of 60 seconds.

Duration 3^no part = About 15 minutes