The Mayor of Kythera Stratos Harhalakis responded publicly to the criticized by the journalist Yannis Koroneos on his attitude at the KEDE congress in Alexandroupolis. In his post, Mr. Harhalakis accuses Mr. Koroneos of selective concern and political identification with SYRIZA, defends the operation of the majority system in the KEDE and points out that the municipal authority is judged by its work and not by public statements.
Here is the Mayor's post in full.
The optional concerns of Mr. Yannis Koronaiou
The journalist Mr. Yannis Koroneos - who never exposed himself to the popular verdict - is concerned about what I wrote in relation to the KEDE Conference in Alexandroupolis. This concern stems from the fact that, as he claims, the resolution of the KEDE administration was approved by a majority against the corresponding resolution of Mr. Doukas (to which SYRIZA also clung to in order to find a self-governing lifeline).
Mr.Koroneos was appointed to a highly paid state position under the SYRIZA-ANEL government, and this is neither a secret nor is the job a disgrace. But then, he was not bothered by the fact that in democracies the decisions of the majority are implemented, even if they are approved by even one vote difference from the other proposal. Because that is the way our Constitution works: the majority system, and Mr Coronaeus' party knows it well: it is the system by which he became a Government! Then it was good. Now it stinks. Um, how to do it, 5% doesn't come alone, it takes effort!
Koroneos was not worried when SYRIZA dismantled local government with its own-inspired simple proportional representation, which led dozens of municipalities to complete ungovernability and reinforced the strange political dealings under the tables.
Mr. Koroneos was not worried when Rev. Minister of Finance, Mr. Mardas, stated in an unabashed manner to the Board of the K.E.D.E. that he did not know what the municipalities« contributory revenues (water, sanitation and lighting charges) were, which the then SYRIZA Government attempted to hijack in order to pour them into the bottomless barrel of public debt as a result of the »proud negotiation with an -n-".
Mr.Koroneos was not worried when the political leadership of the Ministry of Interior, i.e. those who have an institutional OBLIGATION to sit at the same table with the Mayors, kicked out of the Ministry the delegation of the C.E.D.E., which rightly complained about the misappropriation of the cash reserves of the Municipalities.
Mr.Koroneos was not worried when on the eve of 15 August 2016 Mr.Spirtzis was passing through Parliament Law 4412, without the slightest information and consultation with the Local Government, as a result of which the Municipalities could not tender for projects for almost a year and which was so «well coordinated» that it has been amended more than 200 times!
Mr.Koroneos was not worried when the then Minister of Interior Mr.Skourletis (13-03-2018) called on the Municipalities to be funded for the renovation of their playgrounds (Philodemus Programme), but EXCLUDING from the eligible costs the fencing, the certification procedures and all the construction work, which the Municipalities had to bear from their own resources! By the way, Mr. Coronaeus, on what grounds were these costs (necessary for the certification of the playgrounds) excluded from this funding? Do you happen to know? My mind is going somewhere, though.
Mr.Koroneos was not worried by the complete political absence of the under rebranding Mr.Tsipras in the Piraeus and Islands where for 2 years he was a Member of Parliament!
I, Mr. Coronaille, do not «worry» at the microphones. I work in offices, on projects, in meetings, in ministries. If you think politics is conducted in the style of a radio poem, go ahead. Except that here - on the real island, not your imaginary one - the citizens are not fed with «concerns». They want results. And they get it. And they see it on the construction sites. And they applaud it at the ballot box.
Good luck with your concerns, which I understand are many due to the fragmentation of your party's space!
We continue on the road of works!
Be careful there in the offices where you work night and day that you don't get hit by an air conditioner and pass out.
In essence, all this talk about Syriza is “the ball on the stage”. If you want to work as a press office for the ND send them your resume and they'll hire you. You're a hard worker too, as you admit yourself. You'll do just fine. But you are elected and your job is to serve the people. Not to sell country, but to serve country. Not to divide and conquer with platitudes like “...Then it was good. Now it stinks. Um, how to do it, 5% doesn't just come by itself, it takes effort!”. That's childish. And unfortunately, it's the kind of childishness you avoid responding with.
Coronaeus' comment was not Syriza-like. It was Tsirigoi. But how do you know about Chirigo?;