Μunicipalities are facing backlash after a national e-government citizen evaluation platform gave local services poor marks in three areas: parking, sidewalk conditions, and accessibility infrastructure for people with disabilities, results first reported last week by Kathimerini.
Mayors interviewed said municipalities are responsible for pedestrian safety but not sidewalk upkeep, which by a 2023 ministerial decision falls to adjacent property owners. “We want Northern European infrastructure with a Balkan mentality,” said Alimos Mayor Andreas Kondylis, noting many sidewalks are too narrow for wheelchair access. Argyroupoli-Elliniko Mayor Giannis Konstantatos said residents must also respect shared spaces.
Papagou-Holargos plans a resident-priority parking system near its Metro station starting in next year, along with new disability ramps.
The Central Union of Greek Municipalities called the evaluation “a scientifically and methodologically unreliable pseudo-evaluation,” saying the state, not municipalities, bears responsibility for infrastructure failures.
