The controversy surrounding the Local Urban Plan (LEP) of Kythera continues with undiminished intensity, as the Mayor of Kythera, Eustratios Charhalakis, launched a fierce attack on the party “Free Kythera”, replying to recent press release of the minor opposition.
In a post full of sharp references and harsh characterizations, the Mayor accuses his political opponents of “unabated profanity” and “bullying” , while defending the right of the municipal authority to have a different opinion on the urban plan of the island.
Mr. Harhalakis does not hesitate to personally attack the minor opposition, recalling a series of incidents where, in his opinion, “Free Kythera” used verbal violence and derogatory name-calling.
He directly raises questions about the rhetoric of «Free Kythera», wondering if they are implying financial transactions and criminal offences, while stressing that his political opponents «slipping away like eels» and attempt to exclude the municipal authority from the public debate.
Mr. Harchalakis categorically states that the municipal authority will not ask «no one's approval» for its views, while characterizing the minor opposition as a faction that «cannot stand the dialogue» and seeks to impose one-dimensional approaches to the development of the island.
The post closes with a warning to «Free Kythera» that their aggressive rhetoric will lead them to political isolation, while the Mayor announces that he will come back with more detailed comments on the TAP. Below is the statement - post of the Mayor.
“FREE CYPRIOTS” AND COMMITTED SELF-GOVERNMENT!
The recent press release of the Minor Minority on the developments in the process of the preparation of the Local Urban Plan of the Municipality of Kythera, is yet another incessant invective against those who do not blindly and uncritically identify with its own views. The so-called democrats who are used to wagging their finger at us on issues of democratic processes, continue unabated to show their true character:
As they did with their well-known bullying at the Board's episodic water meeting this summer.
As they did in the 14/08/2024 Board of Directors, calling those who do not agree with them «little people» (they spoke as genuine «grown-ups» after all...).
As they did with the shabby printing of the photo of the completely respectable (and because of his age) Deputy Mayor P. Zantiotis on a bottle of cloudy water, after a network failure (you know dear luminaries, the water always gets cloudy after a long break...), practicing obscene bullying to a man who has only friends on the island.
As their leader did on the eve of Myrtidiotissa (zero respect even on such a great day for the country) and almost midnight (!), when he rushed to announce his alleged communication with the leadership of the Ministry of Education (on the issue of teachers), for which we still expect - in vain of course - to tell us with specific evidence and data when and with whom he communicated.
As they did by bullying the majority Councillors by telling them «be careful what you vote for because you will be spoiled» (we didn't know we were getting your permission on what to vote for...) on the fixed deposit issue at the Board meeting on 27/04/2024.
As they did by slipping like eels in the persistent pressure of factions and society to finally tell us their views on the positive outcome of the Church's unprovoked and divisive appeals to the Council of State for the Holy Shrines (we have the vague suspicion that they were not very happy with the result, however...).
As they did on 13-09-2024, when, on the occasion of the elections for the new administration of the National Property, they described the two factions (majority and major minority) as a «body of moderates» and «a bunch of rude, uncultivated middle-aged and elderly men» who have «public works in common»!
So what exactly bothered the «Free Kythera» and they speak of «psychosis», «petty political gang», «arrogance of incompetence», «wolfish Board» etc.?;
What do they mean when they say that the coalition and the major minority are linked «to keep the money flowing»? Is there some kind of financial transaction between the Mayor and Mr. Suris? Do they realize how serious and especially how damning (criminally and morally) these words are? Do they realize that all of the above is a clear transgression of the red lines and boundaries of political criticism?;
Yes, we have a different opinion on the scenarios presented for the TPA and rightly so! We will not ask for your approval of our opinion! You have no opinion superior to us or any other entity or citizen! Your opinion carries no more weight than anyone else's! You have no presumption of correctness in anything or for anything!
As much as the opinion of a farmer who is a permanent resident of the island and struggles to cultivate the land and live his family with dignity, the opinion of a European or Australian citizen who has built a million-dollar house in Kythera is equally weighty. There are no citizens and residents of different speeds and values either by education, perception or economic surface. No one has the right to say «I paid all that money to build a house, so my view is superior, better and more correct». NO ONE! Those who argue this are throwing water on the discriminatory mill and spawning practices and attitudes that are irredeemably outdated. Period.
You have every right to want inaccessible beaches, a 0.2 factor, quarries in Gerakari, the degradation of the airport and smart villages. We have exactly the same right to want much more developmental interventions in our place because we believe that the island needs new jobs, new investments, new infrastructure, new construction, strengthening of the domestic property (no, we will not build in the Castle of Chora, stop the ridiculousness already...).
So let us explain. Only with trails, fishing tourism and nature tourism (which we support substantially and dynamically through Leader and other actions that we brought to Kythera, let's not forget), there can be no sustainable future for an island that wants to bring new people to live there permanently. The island is big and can accommodate everything: organised beaches and protected beaches, extension of settlement boundaries and protection of monuments, modern port infrastructure and airport, tourism investments and primary sector, bars and quietness. The one-dimensional approach is highly problematic and we reject it.
So anyone who doesn't agree with you, you call them names. You insult him. You belittle them. You do it systematically because you think your view is superior to everyone else's.
One last thing: I am a member of the Committee of the Ministry of Interior for the new Local Government Code. So I assure you that I am fighting to ensure that any legislation of this kind, such as the TPA that governs our lives, must necessarily receive the binding consent of the relevant Board. Otherwise, when the role of local elected officials is merely advisory, what kind of Home Rule do we have? The same applies to any large investment such as renewable energy, which must have the mandatory consent of each Board or else be considered rejected. No courts, no appeals. Anyone want to put wind turbines on Kythera? If they don't have the consent of the board, they can't. It is a shame (if not a shame) to justify the non-binding nature of such decisions because we don't agree with your opinion. What a fine self-government you envision! On the one hand, you bemoan the law because the opinion of the Boards is not binding on the RES, on the other hand you applaud it when it comes to the TPA! Finally decide what you want... It is yet another black mark among the many you have written for the last 1.5 years.
Is this the Self-Government envisioned by «Free Kythera»? The chained and bound that has no role and no say in such serious matters?;
In conclusion: we will have our opinion without asking for your approval. The Kytherian people have given us approval in 3 consecutive elections. Make sure you stop insulting those you disagree with because you won't even get to the next election, the people do not easily forgive either name calling, insults or arrogance.
On the substance of the TAP and our vision, I will come back in much more detail.
Good morning from frozen Brussels!
