With wishes for the new year opened the first special accountability meeting of the City Council for 2026, with the presence of the Mayor Mr. Eustratios Charhalakis to provoke political commentary from the opposition from the outset. It should be noted that since the beginning of his third term of office, Mr. Harhalakis has been absent continuously for two years. The debate was held in high tones, with the main issues being legality in the management of municipal real estate, legacies, water supply regulations and the way in which the municipal authority understands the consultation.

The property of the «old museum» in Chora: enforcement of the decision and pending before the CoE

The leader of the opposition, Mr. Zacharias Souris raised first the issue of the auction for the property of the old museum in Chora, where - as he said - from February 2024 Mr. Emmanuel Kousouris, but the property has not been restituted, while the previous user (and elected official) remains inside.

The mayor responded with a chronological list of actions:

He recalled that the previous tenant, Mr. George Cominos, ...hired by the 2008 (before assuming an elected role).
He said that by decision of the Municipal Committee approved the auction protocol (bid 185€/month, starting price 180€).
He described the course of administrative appeals and that it has been filed application for annulment to the Council of State (24/9/2024) against the tendering procedure.
As regards the action for annulment: he stated that a judgment of the Piraeus Court of First Instance, published in the first instance, had been delivered in the first instance 14/7/2025, upholding the action brought by the Municipality and awarding damages for loss of use (from 80€ in 185€) and the costs of the proceedings.

On the political side, the mayor argued that the municipality «does not suffer» financially, while weighs the pending case before the CoE, as it argued that a possible annulment could give rise to claims/compensation.

Mr.Souris returned saying that the crucial thing is «why the court decision is not executed» and highlighted the phrase «forcible expulsion» as an element that - in his view - is not implemented. The mayor replied that «forcible expulsion» means a formal enforcement procedure through a bailiff and not «arbitrary action», insisting that the procedure will proceed legally.

What remains: Timeline, specific next steps of execution (transcript/transcript/orders to bailiff) and how the City will proceed.

Legacies: list, accounts, €15,000 contract and NDA audit

Mr. Panayiotis Megalokonomos asked for a «complete and official list» of bequests, which ones have independent budgets, what the contract deliverables are 15.000€ with a private consultancy firm and what stage is reached in the «full settlement».

The mayor stated that the issue has been answered in the past, however he reiterated details and listed the bequests they have separate bank accounts (with revenue), such as: Filoti Aroni, Pantelis Kasimatis, Grigorios Petrochilou, Georgios Skekos, Lambros Frantzeskakis, Ilias Harhalakis, Dionysios Andronikos (indicating that an account of the Ilias Harhalakis estate shows about 90.000€). It argued that the revenue is not used for «other purposes» and attributed the difficulties to incomplete files from the time of the communities and in the understaffing of the Municipality.

For the contract with a private party, he said that there was approval of the Decentralized (reference to a document 1/10/2023), that the deliverables were difficult to standardise, that the contract has been extended until 31/3/2026 and that the company provides advisory (not legal/accounting) services. In addition, he relied on an audit/correspondence of National Transparency Authority (reference to document 27/8/2025) who - as he said - acknowledged the City's effort and infrastructure difficulties, without finding any financial loss.

In his second, Mr. Megaloconomos commended the Mayor for the detailed briefing, but asked for clarification on the role of deputy mayors with regard to real estate/estates. The Mayor replied that there is no separation, but the legacies are handled he “exclusively” with a particular employee, and added a spike in «numerous petitions» from the opposition (Mr. Souris) that - he said - were sucking up service hours.

What was left “open”: The aggregated «official list» (with a list of files/components), the specific deliverables of the €15,000 per bequest contract, and in particular when full public information will be provided with detailed presentation (the mayor announced a special meeting after the closing of the contract).

New water regulation: award, package of regulations and “limits” on tariffs

Mr. Paraskevas Georgilas reiterated a proposal put forward «about two years ago» for modernisation of the water supply regulation, requesting a timetable and provision for social/professional/special tariffs and controls.

The mayor responded that a previous award did not proceed due to the contractor's workload and that since 26/8/2025 a new contract has been awarded to a company for a series of regulations: cleaning, water supply and sewerage, public utilities, advertising, as well as arrangements in conjunction with Domestic Property for «who leases what». He stated that the regulations are ready, they will be sent to the factions/councillors/local chairs prior to introduction for a vote.

As regards the special tariffs, it argued that - according to the replies of the Ministry of Interior and Decentralised - cannot be “locked” into the regulation, but it must be decided every year in the decision fixing the fees.

Outstanding issues: Exactly when the draft regulation will be sent out and when it will be introduced for a vote, as well as how the fee scales/categories will be structured in the annual fee resolution.

Consultation and “command mandate”: a head-on clash with Sophio

Mr. Anargeros Sophios raised the issue of «social cohesion» and statutory consultation «on major projects», accusing the municipal authority of not having been consulted effectively.

The mayor described the question as «unclear» and argued that consultation takes place where the law requires it (citing an example of regulation for the River Bazaar), but not on the selection of projects, stressing that the administration decides «on the basis of the mandate» of the election result. He also referred to the new local government code, saying that it would provide for local referendums only for extremely serious, defined matters.

Sophios replied that «the mayor is afraid of the citizens» opinion« and disagrees with the notion that »per years he gives me an order and I do what I want«, with the mayor closing by saying that »it is obvious that we have a different opinion".

Local entrepreneurship: leader, “local products” and the debate on the Development Agency

Mr. Andreas Mariatos asked for examples of entrepreneurship/producer support and also raised the issue of speaking time in the accountability process.

The mayor responded as a key example of the Leader programme, claiming that it brought in «€5.5 million» to individuals and supported cooperatives/businesses, while also highlighting the municipality's choice to direct resources to the local market through procurement/works. Mariatos countered that Leader «existed before», accused the municipality of closing the Kythera Development Company and «transferring resources outside Kythera». The mayor replied that the scheme was unsustainable, that the abolition of legal entities from 1/1/2024 would close it anyway, and defended the cooperation with Parnona as a choice dictated by the managing authority and «judged by the result».

The “picture” of the meeting

The first accountability of 2026 highlighted two constant lines of conflict:

The opposition pushing for timelines, enforcement of decisions and a clean «administrative footprint» on properties and estates.
The municipal authority responds with «action files», invoking procedures and backlogs and shifting the burden to the operational reality (understaffing, deadlines, responsibilities).