2. Are you seeking any other office in the district or
region?
Sisamakis:
Regarding District and regional politics, there have been interests
expressed already by some very good individuals who have served the local
government for a considerable time, as well as by some very able politicians
from the central political scene. At this time, I want to continue in the
local government.
Danelakis: That's
something outside my subject of expertise.
Mr. Danelakis
3. In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of
Kallikratis?
Sisamakis:
When you attempt to bring about a change in a system of local government,
it’s absolutely normal for negative elements to co-exist with positive ones,
all stemming from applying the change. This will rapidly change the way the
local government operates and will influence our lives. We must realize that
the new Iraklion
demos will be particularly powerful compared to all Municipalities in Crete with other demographic sizes. Hence, the new Iraklion municipal council
must unite all the particularities from the different municipalities and
deal with their problems with common measures and strategy.
Danelakis: I do not
believe there are any disadvantages because then I would be against the
Kallikratic mergers. Of course, each new undertaking presents difficulties.
And in the case of Kallikratis, from within the advantages will also emerge
the first big difficulties while these conjunctions take place. And by this
I mean that, yes the pros will be bigger because of the demographic increase
of the new municipalities, but on the other hand, how can people who until
yesterday had not met can cohabit and together create a new social cell on
which Kallikratis can depend? Yet another difficulty is to be able to
assemble and resolve the problems of a union of old municipalities with the
same socio-economic characteristics, since in our case, in the present
phase, one of the biggest blows of the current crisis is against our biggest
good (80 per cent) which is tourism.
4. In what way will the local residents
benefit from the Kallikratis?
Sisamakis: It
opens a new page for the local government with the creation of new, more
powerful Municipalities. I want to look at the future with optimism and I
consider that in the new Iraklion Municipality it will be easier to claim
important issues that have been pestering our citizens for a lot of years,
like relocation of the Nikos Kazantzakis airport.
Danelakis: The
citizens will profit by supporting the program unconditionally, and without
any old fashion convictions, always keeping in mind the positive
points…together with the new municipal government they must leave behind all
outmoded ideas and negative practices.
