I must confess that I, too, have committed an indiscretion similar to the one the Mayor describes in his «Letter to the People of Kythira»: I went to Rome and didn’t see the Pope! In fact, I learned that the Pope had been deeply offended by my behavior…
And to get serious:

1) The event organized by the Friends of the Kythira Police Department was open to the public, and anyone who wanted to attend was welcome. Since I moderated the discussion, I can assure you that anyone who asked to speak would have been given the floor. Perhaps it hasn’t been made clear that ELAS has adopted a new policy: No one is considered a VIP; no one stands out from the rest. Here, we don’t have «Ludovics» or «holy families»…

2) The event was titled «Now We Speak.» As democratic citizens, we have learned to speak out and not to succumb to any kind of violence or manipulation. We speak without masks and without «anonymous complaints»… We say what we mean, using our full names and signatures. Let the Maximos Mansion organize an event titled «We Always Hear You» to share what the rest of us are saying in our phone calls and emails!

3) More than 200 of our fellow countrymen and friends of Kythira attended the event. They wanted to listen and speak. They took part in a substantive political discussion that lasted over 2.5 hours. In addition, many dozens watched the event online.

4) The left has traditionally upheld the institution of local government and those elected to local government. It does not want to impose party appointees, as sought by the Mitsotakis government, which unilaterally passed a new Local Self-Government Code abolishing the second round and now introduces the election of municipal and regional authorities in a single phase. The entire opposition, the Central Union of Municipalities, and the Union of Regions were vehemently opposed. Under this law, a local government coalition that (for example) received 25% of the votes could elect 60% of the municipal councilors! On this issue of democracy, the mayor hasn’t said a word…

5) The mayor has chosen to regularly present himself as a party leader. He recently criticized Alexis Tsipras for an interview he gave to “Le Monde”… A few years ago, he had no problem praising the then-regional governor, Ms. Dourou! Let him decide for himself exactly what he is and how he wants us to treat him: As a mayor or as a party leader? Unless, of course, it’s true that his support among his former voters has weakened and he’s raising the tone to remind people of his presence…

6) The discussion did not focus on the work of the current municipal administration. However, the citizens who took the floor themselves raised pressing issues such as high prices (or profiteering, if you prefer), population decline and the exodus of young people, the abandonment of primary production, transportation issues, and the lack of development prospects and planning. They sought answers to these issues, and that is where the discussion focused.

7) Of course, many citizens raised issues that fall within the mayor’s purview, and it was clear from these that they are anything but enthusiastic about the work accomplished over three terms in office. After all, governments and municipalities manage our money, and their salaries come from our taxes. They’re not doing us a favor—they’re doing their job—so let them at least do it well, especially since there have been some complaints about disproportionately high costs.

8) Our guest of honor, George Ioakeimidis, needs no introduction. A glance at his resume says it all: 41 years in local government, 29 of which as mayor. He was first elected Mayor of Renti and later Mayor of Nikaia-Renti, receiving over 60% of the vote… As for his education, it is worth noting that he entered the School of Civil Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens on a scholarship, and for 15 years he taught the course «Seismic Technology» at the School of Civil Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens. Any comparison with graduates of South Kytherian College is striking…

9) Kythira needs neither political grandstanding nor personal attacks. It needs dialogue, a serious approach, and, above all, an honest assessment of its problems. Of course, the projects must be acknowledged. However, they do not serve as an excuse to dismiss those who point out what has not yet been done or what has been done incorrectly. Reality is not judged by who talks about it the most, but by how citizens experience it.

I, too, wish you a happy Assumption Day, and I look forward to seeing you on September 15, the feast day of Saint Porphyrios the Mime (patron saint of actors)…