Athens Mayor Haris Doukas has strongly criticized the Greek government over a new bill that removes approximately €50 million in revenue from traffic fines (KOK) from municipalities, calling it a move of “dangerous acrobatics directly against citizens.”
In a detailed statement, Doukas emphasized that the government’s decision is both surprising and secretive, stripping municipalities of funds that traditionally finance road safety projects. Instead, these resources are being redirected to police welfare funds, city police employee welfare, security forces staff welfare, and the Army Mutual Fund. Ironically, before seizing the funds, the government tripled the fines, adding to the controversy.
“While the government publicly proclaims concern for road safety, it simultaneously deprives municipalities of the minimal resources they have to fund projects safeguarding the road network—responsible for 1 in 10 traffic accidents according to ELSTAT,” Doukas said.
The mayor also highlighted the government’s long-standing disregard for decentralized institutions. “We saw this pattern unfold at this year’s Thessaloniki International Fair (DETH), when municipalities were excluded from any funding, not even a single euro, despite the government celebrating a budget surplus exceeding €9 billion.”
Doukas underlined the broader context of government policies undermining local administration, including:
- Withholding legally mandated resources
- Maintaining restrictive memoranda-era limits on funds and personnel
- Excluding municipalities from waste management and water revenue
- Removing resilience tax income and urban planning authority
The new bill on traffic fines, he warns, is unprecedented in its approach: it imposes new responsibilities on municipalities, such as installing traffic cameras, without providing new funds, while simultaneously confiscating longstanding municipal revenues.
Call to Action Mayor Doukas concluded with a call for unity and decisive action:
- Central Union of Greek Municipalities (KEDE): move beyond statements of condemnation and take dynamic measures to halt the bill. An extraordinary board meeting should be convened immediately.
- Political parties: intervene to stop this orchestrated attack on local government and protect decentralized institutions from further erosion.
Doukas’ warning reflects growing tensions between Athens municipalities and the central government, highlighting a clash over local autonomy, road safety, and municipal finances.
Source: pagenews.gr