The decision by the Kythira Municipal Committee to approve, under the emergency procedure, a massive water supply project, worth 1,500,000.00 euros, completely bypassing open competitive bidding procedures.
Decision No. 71/2026, signed by Mayor Efstratios Charhalakis and published as a ’corrected version« on June 30, 2026, reveals a series of gray areas that expose the municipal administration. Both the legal basis for the «emergency» and the peculiar methodology followed are coming under scrutiny, just as the island is entering the peak of the tourist season.
The «emergency» that was eleven months late…
The municipal authority invoked the exceptional provisions of the Public Procurement Law (Article 269 of Law 4412/2016), citing «an urgent need due to unforeseeable events» to avoid publishing a call for bids and proceed with closed negotiations. The devastating forest fire that struck Kythira in July 2025 is being labeled an «unforeseen event».
However, this raises a huge moral and legal question: How is it possible that an event that took place a full eleven months ago is now being characterized as «urgent» and «unforeseen»; The established case law of the Court of Auditors makes it clear that the negotiated procedure is permitted exclusively for the immediate meeting basic needs and under no circumstances may it be used to cover up a contracting authority’s negligence, delay, or failure to plan in a timely manner.
In fact, the decision itself reveals the municipality’s delay, since It has been revealed that the Technical Service had the relevant study ready as of November 27, 2025. The reason Mr. Charchalakis kept the study in his drawers for more than six months, only «remembered» the “urgency” in mid-June 2026, and finally published it on June 30, irrevocably exposes the Municipality’s public relations claims.
Cases of «classifying» routine needs as fire-related
When examining the technical scope of the project, there are more objections. The proposal argues that the Wells in the burned areas (Aroniadika, Frilingianika, Karvounades, Myrtidia) are at risk of chemical contamination due to rainfall during the hydrogeological year. To address this, the project provides for the Connection of the Diakofto desalination plant to the north, but also the Connection of the Kapsali desalination plant to Chora for the South.
This is where the major contradiction lies: Kapsali and Chora were not affected by the fire. Connecting the Kapsali desalination plant to the central reservoir in Chora is a long-standing infrastructure request aimed at meeting the region’s increased tourism needs. The municipal government appears to be exploiting last year’s disaster by «rebranding» a a major tourism infrastructure project classified as «urgent fire-damaged», with the sole apparent purpose of avoiding an open public bidding process.
Selection of specific companies outside the island
Instead of the 1.5 million project to be released onto the open market so that they can be claimed big discounts For the benefit of the municipality’s funds, the Municipal Committee decided to send a closed invitation to three specific companies of her choosing, all of which are based in the greater Attica region (Salamina, Piraeus, Alimos): ZITAKAT A.T.E.B.E., PAKTOSI TECHNIKI I.K.E., and CHOROTECHNIKI A.T.E..
This choice, made without open competition, lends credence to claims of opaque maneuvers and predetermined decisions. Kythira deserves safe and clean water, but the residents also have the right to know why a project whose design was ready as early as November, is decided through fast-track procedures in the «heart» of summer, marked as urgent due to a fire that occurred last year.
It will be interesting to see how the opposition reacts, especially since it boycotted the Municipal Committee meeting on such a critical decision.
