Leros: Intense political clash at the Mayor’s Accountability Session

A tense atmosphere marked the recent accountability session of the Mayor of Leros, Mr Timotheos Kottakis, held in the presence of municipal councillors and members of the public.

The session began with 13 out of 19 council members in attendance.

Initially, the President of the Municipal Council, Mr Panagiotis Koumparos, confirmed attendance and outlined the framework of the meeting. The leader of the opposition, Mr Michalis Kolias, requested strict adherence to the agenda, emphasising that the session should not deviate from the scheduled topics.

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In response, Mayor Kottakis stated that he considered it his duty to address all issues raised, as they are of significant importance to the island and should not be left unanswered.

Tensions escalated following the Mayor’s reference to a recent press release by newly elected Councillor Mr Nikos Spyrou regarding “social division.” Mr Kottakis countered, “We speak the truth and uphold the law. We do not differentiate between those who voted for us and those who did not. So, are we the ones causing division?”

Mr Konstantinidis also drew a sharp response from the Mayor over allegations of “showmanship during accountability sessions,” with Mr Kottakis remarking, “The real show is when people try to turn black into white.”

The Mayor highlighted 24 major projects scheduled for implementation over the next 12 months, in addition to the day-to-day interventions required across the island.

Mr Kolias, in his rebuttal, accused the municipal administration of being fixated on him and stressed the need for public updates through official statements. He also advocated for individual voting on development projects during budget revisions and expressed dissatisfaction over repeated references to the opposition’s absences, noting that “life includes other obligations beyond council meetings.”

It is worth noting that some attendees reacted with subtle amusement, smiling at various remarks made by Mr Kolias.

The debate intensified over the issue of the Waste Treatment Facility (XYTY) and associated licensing delays. Mr Kottakis accused Mr Kolias, in his former role as president of FODSA, of failing to advance the required procedures and mentioned unutilised funding amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros.

The Mayor also criticised delays in the sewerage works in Xirokampos and the failure to restore the Lakki port, inviting the opposition to present evidence if mismanagement is claimed.

During his address, Mr Kolias proposed a financial audit of the former DOPAISAP, similar to the audit conducted on the Municipality of Leros. This suggestion sparked a strong reaction from Independent Councillor Mr Grekos, who stated that the former Mayor should feel ashamed for insinuating such things. He also urged Mr Kottakis to launch a formal audit of the former DOPAISAP for the period 2011 to 2023.

The session concluded amid political confrontation, leaving several matters unresolved and likely to be revisited in future meetings. Citizens were also given the opportunity to pose questions directly to the Mayor at the end of the proceedings.

Watch the full session at the link below: