for our English speaking friends here is the announcement of the new municipal movement in English :
With a sense of responsibility and love for our community, I announce the establishment of a new Municipal Movement—a collective effort aimed at improving the daily lives of our fellow citizens and modernizing our municipality for a more sustainable and efficient operation.
This decision was made because I have observed that while the state’s institutional framework outlines specific processes for an effectively functioning municipality that prioritizes its citizens, the reality we experience falls short of this ideal. It is widely acknowledged that better planning, organization, and coordinated actions are needed to achieve maximum efficiency.
At the same time, the decision to create this municipal movement also stems from my personal journey. I was born on this island, pursued higher education in the UK, and had the opportunity to live and work abroad in conditions that many would consider ideal from every perspective. Nevertheless, I made the conscious decision to return to my homeland because I deeply believe in its potential and refuse to leave its future to chance. The issues I see are entirely solvable.
I decided to become actively involved, bringing with me the experience and knowledge I gained from my studies and life abroad, as well as my perspective as an “observer” of what happens on our island—as an ordinary citizen—determined to contribute to improving what does not function properly and to change the system from within!
Specifically, I refer to the progress of decisions and projects—both those affecting the daily lives of citizens and long-term infrastructure projects. Too often, decisions are made on paper, but their implementation is excessively delayed, and when they finally materialize, they often fail to align with the initial vision or the actual needs of the municipality. The goal of this movement is to act as a positive force in municipal governance and opposition, presenting well-thought-out, substantive proposals.
This movement is founded on the principles of democracy, participation, transparency, and efficiency in decision-making. At the same time, it will serve as a transparency and oversight mechanism—something like an observatory and think tank—monitoring and highlighting critical issues concerning the municipality’s operations. Our opinions and proposals will not be limited to municipal affairs but will also be submitted to relevant entities, environmental organizations, professional associations on the island, the Decentralized Administration, and even the relevant Ministry, with the goal of improving local governance as a whole.
Naturally, we will monitor decisions published on Diavgeia and the issues raised by citizens, ensuring that processes are conducted transparently and fairly, without abusive practices.
Our objective is a municipality that operates efficiently, respects the needs of its citizens, and ensures sustainable development without compromising quality of life. We want a city where infrastructure, services, and public spaces serve the needs of its residents first and foremost while also supporting the local economy in an organized and balanced manner.
To achieve our goals, we will leverage modern technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence to detect inconsistencies (e.g., in projects and contracts). More specifically, for some time now, I have been developing my own AI models tailored to the needs of the municipality, which process data from Diavgeia and other sources to identify inconsistencies, delays, and deviations from project specifications, enhancing transparency and improving the efficiency of municipal operations.
As the leader of this new municipal movement, I invite every citizen who believes in a better future for our municipality to actively participate, contribute their ideas, and become part of this new effort. I call on citizens, organizations, and associations to support this movement in any way possible—even members of existing factions, whether they have been in the majority or minority.
Together, we can shape a municipality that serves the public good, harnesses its potential, and respects every citizen.
Our Stance on Politics & Administration
Our movement recognizes the significance of our political system and parliamentary democracy, as well as the role of political parties as institutional entities. However, for years, we have witnessed continuous conflicts between the Mayor, the Member of Parliament, and various party factions. While we cannot ignore this reality, we will seek to strike a balance that ensures stability and efficiency in local governance.
Our municipal movement will remain administratively autonomous, prioritizing the genuine needs of citizens over political alignments. We will acknowledge the positive and call out the mistakes, regardless of their source.
Our movement does not view the municipality as separate from the broader region, nor as an autonomous entity that exists only on paper. In Zakynthos, we have repeatedly seen the interconnection and mutual influence between municipal services, the regional government, the Port Fund, and even the Church—often leading to confusion and delays in everything! We take a holistic view and will strive to ensure that all our proposed solutions are comprehensive and aligned with the broader well-being of the island’s residents—whether as citizens, Greek nationals, or visitors. We will not be influenced by historically problematic relationships between various authorities, which, as we have seen in the past, have been a major obstacle to the progress and development of our community.
Our Long-Term Vision
Soon, we will present a detailed framework of principles and positions, outlining our goals, priorities, and operational approach.
For now, to give you an idea, our movement’s plan will unfold in three phases over the coming years. The final stage will involve the transformation of the movement into an electoral coalition that, if it gains sufficient momentum and the right people, could run for municipal office. This means that our movement will have a stance, an opinion, and potential solutions for every issue affecting citizens in their daily lives. These perspectives will shape the political direction of the movement, which will evolve dynamically—determined by its Members, Supporters, and Future Candidates, who will publicly represent the movement. This is a fluid process with a solid foundation, which will take its final shape in the coming years.
However, under no circumstances will the movement act as the opposition until the next elections, nor will it engage in petty politics or allow itself to be exploited by opposition forces. As you will see from our announcements, our actions will always be guided by the interests of the municipality, stepping in wherever we believe we can help.
Some may argue that it is easy to criticize from outside the municipal council. To them, we respond that our criticism will come from the perspective of the citizen—the citizen who feels unrepresented in the municipal council or believes their representation is not receiving the attention it deserves. We will use every available means, from the media to the Ombudsman, to make our voices heard.
A Movement Based on Merit & Integrity
We understand that many of our fellow citizens have been involved in local affairs in the past, through political factions that made decisions which may have negatively impacted their reputation. We believe in second chances. However, we also believe that the candidates of our municipal movement must have unquestionable integrity and a background that inspires trust. We want individuals who can contribute positively—without the shadows of the past undermining our vision for transparent and credible governance. We want candidates who add value to our movement rather than diminish it.
Of course, everyone is welcome to support us as Friends or Members. Those who have self-awareness regarding their past actions and choices will determine for themselves whether their place is as a Candidate or if they can contribute in another role that better aligns with our principles and vision.
Our movement is founded on logic, and we want our friends and supporters to think rationally, with a clear understanding of their role. It is essential that each member understands how they influence the whole, considering both the past and the responsibilities it entails.
An Open and Inclusive Movement
To avoid misunderstandings about our stance on technology and our undefined political position, I want to clarify that our movement remains open to all citizens, regardless of political affiliation. Our priority is the real needs of the municipality—not party alignments.
We recognize that effective governance requires both technocratic solutions and social sensitivity. That is why we aim for a balanced approach that leverages technology for transparency and service improvement while maintaining a human-centered focus.
Similarly, our emphasis on candidates of integrity does not mean excluding those with previous political involvement, but rather ensuring transparency and trust in our team.
We want a movement open to second chances, different viewpoints, and the participation of all who genuinely wish to contribute—provided they share our values for a municipality that operates with transparency, logic, and consistency.
Let’s change our municipality TODAY!
Zakynthos – 05/03/2025
IOANNIS KOKKINIS
Leader of the New Municipal Movement