Heated confrontation between Sofios and Charhalakis

New confrontation broke out between the municipal authority and the faction «Free Kythera», on the occasion of the Accountability Session and the recent tourism conference on the island.

The faction of Mr.Anargyros Sophiou started a series of publications, raising questions about the organisation and the results of the conference. Among them: what was the official purpose, whether there was a conclusion or a strategic plan, why local tourism professionals did not participate, why there was no input from the Deputy Mayor of Tourism and why the event was held on a daily basis. The faction argues that tourism in Kythera is being handled «sloppily and amateurishly».

The Mayor Efstratios Harhalakis responded with a sharp post, noting that the conference was prepared for 1.5 years, that the conferences are held on weekdays for organizational reasons and that all the contributions are already available on the Municipality's website, with the official minutes to follow. He also pointed out that there was a pre-registration platform months in advance and criticized the absence of Mr. Sophios from the island on the days of the event.

The incident revived the disagreements on the tourism development strategy and the way of accountability, with the «Free Kythera» faction announcing new interventions.

The following are the statements of Free Kythera and Efstratios Harhalakis.

Free Kythera - Press Release

From today and for the next few days we will present you in detail the positions of the councillors of our party on the issues discussed at the Accountability Council.

As usual, the Mayor was once again absent from the meeting, with the result that answers were given exclusively by the Deputy Mayors.

Our leader, Mr.Anargyros Sophios, was the first to speak, asking a crucial question that arose from legitimate questions from our fellow citizens.

«Question to the Mayor and the Municipal Authority regarding the tourism conference in Kythera

Mr. Mayor,

On the occasion of the recent tourism conference that took place in Kythera, I would like to raise some questions for the information of the citizens and the councillors.

First of all, a conference, as an institution, has a specific purpose: to bring together stakeholders, professionals, experts and the local community in dialogue, to make proposals, to formulate a strategy and to leave a measurable footprint, both in terms of conclusions and results. And all together to shape the future of tourism development in the region.

So I would like to ask:

What was the official purpose and what were the main results of the conference for the tourism of Kythera? Is there any conclusion, strategy or action plan that emerged?;

On the basis of which scientific accreditation was Mr Alon Dzadok given the floor exclusively and were no other local tourism professionals with studies invited, so that the voice of local entrepreneurship could be heard?;

Does the absence of a presentation by the Deputy Mayor of Tourism mean that she had nothing to offer to the conference?;

Finally, why was the conference held on a weekday and not on a weekend, so that more citizens, business people and tourism workers could attend?;

Watch the first video of his statement.

The Deputy Mayor, Ms Varda, initially replied that «everything was done correctly», and then ended with insinuations and personal barbs towards Mr.Sophios.

The second video also captures the immediate response of our leader.

General conclusion:

In Kythera, tourism is still treated in a sloppy and amateurish way. For those who believe - as we do - that there can be real change, this can only be done through a radical change in the model of administration, which we consistently propose.

An update on the next issue will follow tomorrow.

The response of the Mayor of Kythera Efstratios Harhalakis

Mr. Wisdom's direct democracy was on holiday in Egypt...

I will take a short break from the presentation of the projects that have overwhelmed our island (and which were voted for only by the Municipal Authority's faction, let's not forget) and I will deal with the bottomless hypocrisy of the head of the minor minority, Mr. Sophiou and his faction. Don't hope of course that this will continue, he got all the answers at the Board, from tomorrow I am back on the course of major projects.
A few days ago (07-11) the special bi-monthly accountability meeting of the Municipal Authority took place in the Board room. This special meeting is held every 2 months in order to provide answers on behalf of the Municipal Authorities to questions that can be raised by the municipal and local councillors, since now with the new Rules of Procedure of the Boards the information (or rather the verbalization) stage in the Boards has been abolished.
At this meeting, which took place on a day when the Mayor participated in the work of the C.E.D.E. Conference in Alexandroupolis, a total of 10 questions were answered by the Municipal Authority.
The leader of the minority Mr.Anargyros Sophios had submitted a question about the recent Tourism Conference held on our island in an attempt to throw the ball on the podium to cover his provocative absence from it (provocative as he is a member of the Tourism Development Committee of the C.E.D.E.!).
During the days of the Conference, Mr.Sophios left the island and spent his holidays in Egypt, where he even visited the historic Greek Community of Alexandria in a field dress, insulting both himself and the Municipality of Kythera which he claims to represent (did he have the relevant authorization of the Mayor or the Board of Directors to declare that he represents the Municipality of Kythera?). At this point I would like to clarify - for all intents and purposes - that only the Mayor represents the Municipality. Any elected official claiming to represent the Municipality anywhere must have either a relevant mandate from the Mayor or a decision of the Municipal Committee. Representing a municipality is not a beach volleyball tournament, Mr. Sophie. You can represent yourself or your party wherever and however you want, the Municipality cannot. Some seriousness at last.
But because nothing should be left unanswered, I would like to point out the following:
1. The Tourism Conference, which the Opposition, except for Mr.Souris, snubbed and mocked, was prepared by the Organizing Committee for almost 1.5 years. The list of speakers does not require any clarification, nor are we concerned with Mr Sofi's personal views on the speakers. If someone did not like it, he should have been there to take the floor and give us his views.
2. Conferences are not held on weekends. They are held on weekdays for many reasons (organisational, logistics, travel arrangements, compensation of civil servants, etc.), such as the Conferences of the C.E.D.E. (last year Mr Sophios went to Rhodes without being a delegate and he should have known it!).
3. What was said at the Conference is posted on the Municipality's website and with funding from the Ministry of Shipping the minutes will be published, which will remain in our Municipality and to all interested parties as a useful guide for tourism policy. The results of the Conferences do not emerge at the end, but progressively, and there will be a continuation of the debate.
4. The Conference had been announced months ago and everyone knew about it. The Mayor's posts were constant. Anyone who wanted to come could come and ask to be seated. There was a pre-registration platform at least 3 months before the Congress! The rest is just prevarication. I for one, if I were a tourism businessman, would not only have been present, but would have sought to make contact with all these important tourism insiders who were on our island.
5. The best proof of the success of the Conference is the wide publicity it received in national media. Only some of these publications have been posted on the Municipality's website. And it is the best response to the misery that Mr. Sophios attempts to present.
6. On the day of the Conference, the Tourism Development Committee of the KEDE met at the Kythera Town Hall, of which Mr.Sophios is a member with the Mayor's consent. His absence from the island at this unprecedented event will accompany him forever. He SHOULD be here, to welcome in person the other Members of the Committee in which he participates and to play a central role in this meeting as «co-host» with the Mayor of Kythera. He preferred, however, to flee.
What, however, that should concern us all is the undemocratic behavior of Mr.Sophiou towards the Deputy Mayor of Tourism Ms.Matina Varda, during the accountability and while the Deputy Mayor was answering his questions in detail. And while Ms. Varda asked him why he was absent from the Conference, he told her the following:
«Once I take over I will allow anyone to ask me anything and I will answer [...] First, we ask, you don't ask! Let's finish it! Second, you answer!».
Really, Mr. Sophie, has anyone given you the right to indicate to us the way and the type of answer that we as a Municipal Authority will give to your questions? Did anyone tell you that you have the right to permit and prohibit? Did anyone anoint you as a commissioner or an interrogator? Because your tone to the Deputy Mayor was that of an investigative officer, which you are only entitled to have in your office and not in the Board room. Your views on «impartiality» went out the window and your attempt to portray your party as super-democratic has hit rock bottom with this behaviour. We will not ask you Mr. Sophie exactly how we will answer your questions! «Let's get on with it», to use your own words!
We dedicate to Mr. Sophios a sparkling dialogue from an old favourite Greek film with the inimitable Rena Vlachopoulou: «by way of questioning, I answer you. Don't ask, don't answer»!
Mr Sophio is not interested in democracy, nor in tourism. He is only interested in achieving his personal goal (after all, he said it «as soon as I take over», he is sure! Only that these - fortunately - are decided by others...), which with such attitudes and practices is sure to be far away.
تصبح على خير
(good evening in Arabic, because of Egypt, of course, of course, of course...)...