I. Hatzigne: “It’s not always the majority – I have no problem”
B. Pavlakaki: “I’m ready for everything”
How do they assess the disruptive result of the second round and what do they say about the new AMTH Regional Governor
More and more “scenarios” have seen the light of day recently regarding the person who will assume the position of the Regional Vice-Regional Governor of Xanthi, from the elected precincts. advisers of Christ. Topside. Two of them are related to the first in the crusades in the P.E. of Xanthi and the well-known Regional Councilor of Xanthi, Mr. Irfan Hatziggene, and to the new Regional Councilor of Xanthi, Mr. Vasso Pavlakakis. But what do they have to say about the disputed position? How did they see the victory of Mr. Topsides in the second round of the elections and also their personal success? Are they ready to take over – if they are assigned – the position of Deputy Regional Governor of Xanthi or available to contribute from any other position? Answers to all of the above are given exclusively through “Θ” by the aforementioned regional advisors.
“WE COLLECTED THE PROPER RESULT OF OUR MATCH FOR YEARS IN THE DISTRICT COUNCIL – COMPLETELY REVERSED THE RESULT ON THE SECOND SUNDAY”
In more detail, Mr. Hatzigne pointed out to “Th” that “the result of the elections of 8her October was a result of the struggle we had fought for years in the Regional Council. We have always supported the issues of the Region regardless of Regional Unity and we have received the corresponding result.
The second Sunday, turned the events around and while the ruling faction seemed to have the lead but it turned out that it was not impossible to change in the second week.
And the citizens of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace asked for the change and this change came from the fight that Christodoulos Topsidis and his advisers have made in the Regional Council, to give a better quality to the citizens of our Region. We were aware of all issues, we gave our best, for the best result and the best opposition we could give to the Regional Council and we received the corresponding result. The result was expected. In the previous election period we lost by a few votes and this time we completely overturned the result, with a positive sign for the “Regional Synthesis” so that we could take over the reins of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Personally I would not judge whether the village Deputy Governor would be a Muslim or a Christian. This should slowly, over time, disappear. We are all citizens of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and our goal is to be able to upgrade and develop our Region, in all directions. We have stagnated on many issues. We were the worst Region in Europe in terms of economy, unemployment, but also the worst Region in Greece out of the 13 Regions that exist in the Greek territory. The citizens decided on a change to be able to give a better quality to our Region, to see the projects in detail, to see why we were so far behind and to be able to bring the best result by working and only working”.
“WE HAVE NOT YET DISCUSSED WITH MR. TOPSIDI – THE TERRITORIAL COUNTRY IS NOT ALWAYS THE FIRST TO GET IT – I HAVE NO PROBLEM”
With reference to the position of the local Deputy Regional Governor of Xanthi, he emphasized that “unfortunately, we have not sat down at the table to discuss this issue. It will happen when Mr. Christodoulos Topsidis considers that he should listen to our opinions and see from which position everyone can cope with his abilities. I have no problem. From whatever position Christodoulos Topsidis proposes me, I have the ability – to the best extent – to cope with the demands of our Region. It will be respected whatever the opinion of Mr. Topsides that I take the appropriate position. Whenever the positions are assigned, the regional vice-region is not always taken first. Let’s not be ungrateful and let’s talk rationally. And in the previous election contests, both Giorgos Pavlidis and Mr. Metios had not always placed first. If he deems that the time has come for me to take over the territorial Vice-District, I shall be greatly honored and delighted, and I am worthy to meet the possibilities required by the position in question. I believe that Christodoulos Topsidis will be a new District Governor who will have a vision, will not discriminate and will look for the best result for our District. He is hardworking, he has been successful in his career, he is a businessman and all his businesses have brought positive results, he has been the president of the EBE Evros for many years, he is the president of all the EBEs of the Region and I believe that he will show that he is a Regional Governor without distinctions, colors, parties and that he will make use of each one of us, in the appropriate position”.
In closing, Mr. Hatziggene noted that “I would like to thank all the citizens of Xanthi, regardless of color and party, who showed their trust in me and I received the votes corresponding to my name (around 3500 crosses). I will try in the best way, with more persistence, with more struggle, to bring the best result, with better goals in the projects of the Region and Prefecture of Xanthi”.
“WE BELIEVED IN THE RETURN AND WE ALL RAN TOGETHER, ELECTED AND NOT EVEN ON THE MONDAY SUNDAY”
For her part, Mrs. Pavlakaki emphasized that “since 2019, when I decided to partner with Mr. Topsidis, but also in 2023, I firmly believed that Mr. Topsidis is capable of bringing change to the Region. Because as a person, a professional and a technocrat – I would say – I think he could work much better administratively in the Region. Because if we think about it a little more openly, the Region is also a business, it needs management and I think he is the most suitable. I was one of the first to make the decision from January 2023 that I will be with him, because from the first moment I really believed that the world would support this effort. I never doubted that. And after the result of the first Sunday some people jumped to conclusions that the game was lost, I never believed it, because in 2019 we went into the second Sunday with a percentage of 30% and now we were going with a percentage of 35%. In 2019 we were about 10 points apart and now we were 7. So for me nothing was over, so as a team – all 23 candidates on the ballot, regardless of whether some of us knew we were elected and some of us didn’t – we all ran the same, therefore the result for me was expected. For some, probably not. We believed in the turnaround for this one and ran from the first minute. As soon as the result of the first Sunday came out, we didn’t get complacent at all, we weren’t disappointed at all, so all the candidates in Xanthi (this happened in all the Regional Units) whether in elected positions or not, ran the same way, so we overturned the result”.
“I HAVEN’T TALKED TO THE DISTRICT – I’M READY FOR ANYTHING”
In response to a question from “Θ” regarding whether she is ready to accept Mr. Topsides’ possible proposal for any position, although her name is also “prominent” for the position of the regional vice-region, Ms. Pavlakaki replies:
“The truth is that I also read in the press that my name is indeed being played. I have not yet – nor has anyone – spoken to Mr. Topsidis to give you a clear answer regarding who will take over the position of the local Deputy Regional Governor. What I can say is that I am ready for everything and for this I entered the political arena. Clearly, no one was born learned. I’m in a multinational and I’m in team management, so I know more or less how a team is managed. It’s beyond me, to put it simply. Yes, I have no experience in local government. I won’t lie to you. But I definitely have the mood and appetite to read and learn. I know more or less the problems, because with the elections in 2019 and now, in 2023, I have been in contact with all the municipalities and all the citizens. I also followed the previous four years of all the Regional Councils and what happened, what projects are being launched, why they are not progressing and so on. I am a person who takes risks, I am a person who is not afraid to step forward, so whatever position is offered to me I am ready to face it.”
“WE KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING THAT WE WOULD ALL PASS THROUGH THESE POSITIONS AND THAT THERE IS NO ONE WHO IS ADVANCED AND SOMEONE IS AT A DISADVANTAGE”
In a comment by “Th” regarding the statements of Christodoulos Topsidis in our newspaper, who stated that it will not be a criterion for him who cut the “thread” first or sixth, Mrs. Pavlakaki emphasized that “we knew this all the candidates for Regional Councillors, because Mr. Topsidis has the characteristic of being completely clear and telling things as they are. Before the election, we all knew that we will all go through these positions and that there is no one who is ahead and no one who is at a disadvantage because we all fought in this election contest. Whether I will be regional or thematic deputy regional head or if I will be in some other position, the final decision will be taken by the Regional Head himself. I believe that by December 15, the official announcements will be made. We are ready, wherever the Regional Governor needs us, to contribute from any position. That’s why we entered this electoral process.”
