In the photo you see the hall of the Komotini Municipal Council on Wednesday, April 24 at 18:30. Exactly at the time when, under normal circumstances, the 2nd regular Accountability meeting of the Municipal Council of Komotini would start.
But to answer the question: “why was the hall almost completely empty?”, we must first put things in order.
What is an Accountability meeting?
The Accountability meeting is a new regular meeting in Municipal and Regional Councils, recently legislated by the government, with its application starting in the current self-governing term, i.e. from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2028. The meeting is every two months and has in order to strengthen public dialogue, transparency and public accountability of Local Authorities.
The absurd law
In my view, the Accountability meeting is a useful tool that the legislature “imposed” on Municipal and Regional Councils. In order for any matter to be discussed, however, the respective municipal or regional councilor must have put his question to the Bureau in due time and in writing, in order for it to be approved, for the Administration to have adequate time to prepare its answer and to be discussed.
And here we find the absurdity of the law: If no question has been asked on time and in writing, instead of the meeting either not taking place (since there was nothing for which the Administration was asked to be accountable) or postponed (so as to give a “second chance » in the House), the Council must meet normally, but without issues! That is, very simply, the Bureau must go, to say that… the meeting took place, which does not need a quorum to take place.
The empty chairs
At the 2nd Accountability meeting of the Municipal Council on the evening of Wednesday, April 24, no question was put to the Bureau by the deadline and in writing by a municipal councilor of the majority or the minority.
First result? There should be absolutely no subject of discussion! Also, no question is allowed to be asked at that time.
Second result? Not to touch… “soul” in the meeting. And to be absolutely precise. With the clock reading 18:30 (start time) in the hall, apart from the municipal employees, only the president of the Municipal Council Christos Hatzipemou, the mayor Yiannis Garanis and the deputy mayor Dimitris Politiadis were present.
A few minutes later, Hasan Hasan from the opposition and majority councilor Mehmet Mesut arrived. The meeting “happened” formally and without any “substance”.
Collective responsibility
But the main question is this: Why was there no topic to discuss in the first place? Management has not been accountable for anything in the last two months? Is everything welcome in our municipality? Were all the problems or failures identified by the opposition factions resolved before the elections?
The recent popular verdict, in October 2023, is certainly “fresh” and validated the work and vision of the Yannis Garani Administration, which prevailed from the first round with 54%. However, another percentage was registered at the ballot box, 46%, who made a different choice.
And the specific percentage did not “legitimize” neither a grace period in the Administration nor a “blank check”.
That’s why we expect all factions of the opposition, but even the councilors of the majority, to be much more active in the next period, not only with criticism, but also proposals in the direction of the development of our country.
Because, for a better Municipality of Komotini, there is a collective responsibility of all of us.
