The image of Athens is not hidden behind communication gimmicks and posts on social media.
And as much as Mayor of Athens Charis Doukastries to present an embellished reality, the everyday life of the citizens contradicts him in the harshest way.
The intervention of the Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni was no accident. Instead, it captures a reality experienced by residents and visitors alike: a city suffocating from neglect, with obvious cleanliness problems, images of degradation in the center and incidents that directly affect the capital’s image abroad.
The situation on the streets speaks for itself. Accumulated waste, neighbourhoods that resemble abandoned zones and a sense of abandonment that cannot be hidden behind any communication management. At the same time, the rise of delinquency and the increasing presence of addicts in key parts of the city reinforce the feeling of insecurity among citizens.
As if these were not enough, incidents of anti-Semitic slogans and vandalism add to an image that exposes Athens internationally, damaging not only its social cohesion but also its tourist character. At a time when the city should be shielding its profile as a safe and modern European destination,it appears vulnerable and unprotected.
And in this environment, Doukas chooses the tactic of confrontation instead of self-criticism. Instead of providing convincing answers to the current situation, he attempts to appear as a “tit for tat”, avoiding taking the burden of responsibility. His months-long preoccupation with PASOK’s internal party procedures, at a time when the city’s problems were piling up, is an issue that cannot be overlooked.
Athens does not need statements of self-sufficiency. It needs an administration with presence, a plan and efficiency.It needs a mayor who faces reality head-on and not embellish it.
Because at the end of the day, the city is not judged by the posts, but by the image of its streets.And there, reality is inexorable.
Harris Dukas is not judged by his words, but by the image of Athens. And that image is “eloquent”: a city that seems to have been left to its own devices, with the mayor choosing the role of commentator rather than manager. As he invests in communication and easy answers, the problems get bigger and the daily lives of citizens get worse.
Reality cannot be fixed with posts or aggressive rhetoric.It can be fixed with work, presence and responsibility – elements that, so far, are deafeningly absent. And as that gap between words and actions grows, the increasing sense that the city doesn’t just have problems; it has a leadership deficit.
