Harhalakis: Projects are not done by... laparoscopy! - Spikes for opposition from the «beyond».»

With a post that straddles the line between institutional information and harsh political satire, the Mayor of Kythera Stratos Charhalakis announced the approval of the 2026 Budget, choosing to respond to criticism of delays and project nuisance with... medical terms and references to «overkill». The Mayor, presenting a a mammoth budget of 47.666.544,99€ and record payments for 2025 (almost €16 million), he went on the counter-attack against the opposition, employing caustic humour.

The «Laparoscopy» of the Sewerage System

Responding to complaints about the condition of the roads due to the water supply and sewerage works - and perhaps indirectly to complaints about poor workmanship - Mr.Harhalakis commented scathingly that the inconvenience is inevitable.«Nowhere in the world has a way yet been invented to allow, for example, water supply and sewerage projects to be carried out by the method of scooping (!) so that roads are not dug up!» he wrote, mocking those who call for projects without... digging.

«Space Station» in Koumaros

The Mayor's arrows were directed mainly against the minor opposition («Free Kythera» and Mr. Sophio), which he accused of «total lack of knowledge». He exaggerated the extensions in the projects (Kypriotianika, Avlemonas), attributing them to force majeure (rainfall, delays in payments from the Green Fund/DEDDIE) and not to his own responsibility.The «clue» of the post, however, was the reference to a mock-up that the opposition apparently circulated in order to make fun of his projects. Mr. Harhalakis picked up the gauntlet and responded:«I welcome the party “FREE CITIZENS” on the road of self-awareness. Because this is the only way to explain the model of the “Space Station in Kumaros”: whoever comes from the beyond and lives permanently in it, dreams of space stations!»

The Indoor Gym «WILL BE»

Irony aside, the Mayor appeared absolute on the issue of the Indoor Gym in Chora, sending a message to those who oppose it because of its location. Using capital letters, he stressed that the project «WILL BE», characterizing the reactions as «anachronistic localisms» and «populist approaches».With this positioning, Mr. Harhalakis attempts to present the image of a Municipal Authority that produces work of millions, against an opposition that, according to him, lives in the «beyond» and is unaware of how public administration works.

The Mayor's post:

«The City Commission met a short while ago with a full quorum.
The draft Technical Programme and Budget for the year 2026 was approved. The Budget of our Municipality for the year 2026 amounts to 47.666.544,99€ and includes a number of funded projects, unprecedented for the data and the history of our Municipality. The major opposition faction voted “Present” in the Technical Programme and Budget, on which I will provide detailed information at the upcoming Board meeting.

The year 2025 closed for the Municipality of Kythera with total payments to third parties (suppliers, contractors, etc.) amounting to 15.955.796,08€, the largest amount since the establishment of the Municipality. In 2025 they were issued by the Municipality:
- 706 Money orders of the Municipality of Kythera: 15.955.796,08€
- 231 Domestic Money Orders: 680.084,49€
- 37 Money orders of the Port Fund: 303.125,57€

The Municipal Commission also approved the “DARDANOS II” Flood Response Plan, project extensions and ongoing service and administrative issues.
It is obvious that some people are uncomfortable with the projects. And I am not referring to the temporary inconvenience we all suffer from their execution. After all, nowhere in the world has a way yet been invented to ensure that, for example, water supply and sewerage projects are carried out by the method of digging (!) so that the roads are not dug up! I am referring to the minority opposition, which has once again shown its true colours: a complete lack of knowledge of the procedures and rules of local authority administration. And I am explaining myself:

1. The projects are made with studies. Projects are preceded by drawings and models. In the photos I publish you can see COMPLETE PROJECTS, made with plans and models. And these projects some people have ridiculed. Now they use them!

2. Public/municipal projects are entitled to extensions in accordance with Law 4412/2016. The reasons for the extensions are specific: weather conditions (we will NOT do rehabilitation in conditions of continuous rainfall), incomplete ship schedules, delayed payments, etc. For example, funded projects are paid with a long delay. The 1st invoice for the redevelopment in Cyprus has not yet been paid by the Green Fund and therefore the contractor has every right to stop work after two months from submission. The Avlemonas Redevelopment cannot be completed unless the DEDO completes the undergrounding of its networks. These too (late payments, weather conditions, etc.) are not the responsibility of the Mayor concerned. The extensions provided for ensure both the operator and the contractor that the project can continue and be completed. These are the procedures of the Act, we will not change them because Mr. Wise does not like them.

As far as the Closed Gym in Chora is concerned, it WILL BE! It will be done because it is foreseen in the relevant PD of the region, it will be done because our island needs it, it will be done because we owe it to the youth beyond and outside of anachronistic localisms and populist approaches.

Finally, I welcome the “FREE CITIZENS” party to the path of self-knowledge. Because this is the only way to explain the model of the “Space Station in Kumaros”: whoever comes from the beyond and lives permanently in it, dreams of space stations!».