Summary

Apokoronas Mayor Charalampos Koukianakis issued a strongly worded press statement on August 13, 2026, responding to criticism from the local head of the Nea Dimokratia party, who had described the municipality as underdeveloped and isolated. The mayor dismissed party interference in local government as unacceptable, insisting that municipal administration belongs to the community, not to party structures. At the same time, he announced that the Apokoronas municipal council had voted unanimously to approve the regulations and feasibility study for what would be Greece's first organised diving park.

Apokoronas Mayor: "We move forward — without submission"

In a bluntly worded press release published on August 13, 2026, Apokoronas Mayor Charalampos Koukianakis pushed back hard against criticism from the local chairman of the Nea Dimokratia party, who had publicly characterised the municipality as "underdeveloped", "isolated" and "backward".

Drawing the line on party interference

Koukianakis was careful to distinguish between legitimate criticism — which he said he welcomes — and what he described as an attempt to subordinate local government to party interests. "Parties must stay out of local government," he wrote in the statement. "Local government belongs to society, not to party machinery."

The mayor made clear that the residents of Apokoronas will not accept outside political pressure, directives, or attempts to manipulate how their municipality is run. And he had a pointed message for anyone who expects him to simply say yes to whatever is demanded of him: look elsewhere.

Greece's first organised diving park — approved unanimously

Beyond the political sparring, the statement carried a significant piece of local news. On the same day the criticism was published, the Apokoronas municipal council met and voted unanimously to approve both the regulations and the economic and technical feasibility study for the establishment of the first organised diving park in Greece.

The project represents a bold bet on tourism as a driver of growth for the area. While the press release does not specify the exact location, investment figures, or a construction timeline, the unanimous council vote signals strong cross-party support for the initiative within the municipality itself.

What this means for residents

For people living in Apokoronas, the immediate significance of this announcement is twofold. First, their municipality is actively developing a flagship tourism project with the potential to bring new visitors, jobs, and investment to the area. Second, their mayor has made unmistakably clear that he intends to govern in the interests of the local community — not in response to pressure from political parties.

Koukianakis closed his statement with a declaration of intent that doubles as a campaign slogan: "With action, not negation. With ambition, not defeatism. With cooperation, but without submission. Apokoronas moves forward."

Official source

PRESS RELEASE – MAYOR OF APOKORONAS, CHARALAMPOS KOUKIANAKIS: "CRITICISM YES. SUBMISSION NO."

August 13, 2026, 11:30 AM

I read the post by the Chairman of the Local Organisation of Nea Dimokratia in Apokoronas.

Criticism is a right. However, the total negation of an entire municipality and the disparagement of its people is not politics. And one more thing: parties must stay out of local government. Local government belongs to society, not to party machinery. The society of Apokoronas does not accept party interventions, directives, and the logic of manipulating the function of local self-government.

Yesterday, at the very hour when some see an Apokoronas that is "underdeveloped", "isolated" and "backward", the Municipal Council of Apokoronas voted UNANIMOUSLY on the Regulation and the Economic and Technical Study for the creation of the first organised Diving Park in Greece.

This is the Apokoronas that we see.

A municipality that plans, asserts itself, opens new paths and invests in the future of the region.

And let us be clear:

The Mayor of Apokoronas was not elected to submit to the whims of anyone. He was elected to defend the interests of Apokoronas.

We want cooperation with everyone. With respect, institutional integrity and equality.

If some believe that the Mayor must bow his head and say "yes" to everything, let them look elsewhere. As, indeed, they already do.

We will continue on the same path.

With action and not with negation.

With ambition and not with defeatism.

With cooperation, but without submission.

Apokoronas does not shrink to fit into anyone's personal ambitions.

Apokoronas moves forward.

And will continue to move forward.

The Mayor of Apokoronas,

Charalampos Koukianakis.