The citizen evaluation results for local government are a wake-up call for many municipal authorities, leaving few mayors able to confront their constituents directly.
Recent findings from the first public administration poll, presented by Interior Minister Thodoris Livanios and attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, reveal widespread dissatisfaction among citizens regarding municipal infrastructure and services impacting their daily lives.
In the overall evaluation, 17 services scored below the baseline, with positive feedback only for the KEP, the “Help at Home” program, and the KAPI/Friendship Clubs.
Key issues include the condition of sidewalks (including accessibility for the disabled) and roads, attributed to ongoing gas, sewer, and fiber-optic projects. Problems with parking in major urban centers, building services, and stray animal management were also highlighted. In comparison, cleaning and street lighting received relatively better ratings.
The Central Union of Greek Municipalities (KEDE) commented on the online survey results, noting that the participation of 65,000 citizens is valuable but that the survey’s design did not adhere to essential scientific research principles, like weighted sampling, impeding the ability to draw valid conclusions.
The collective body of mayors emphasizes the need for reform in the relationship between state and local governance. They assert that a clear institutional framework, securing necessary financial resources, appropriate staffing, and institutional involvement in national development planning will lead to immediate improvements.
On a brighter note, residents from three neighboring southern municipalities—Glyfada, Alimos, and Eliniko – Argyroupolis—along with Kalamata, Kastoria, and Meteora, ranked well, with these being the only municipalities out of 184 that met the baseline evaluation standards.
“It’s a great honor and even greater responsibility to carry on. We are committed to improving, as this evaluation highlights our weaknesses and the need for further enhancements,” said Glyfada Mayor George Papanikolaou to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.
Residents of Glyfada rated their city an overall 5.4 out of 10, giving top marks nationally for digital services, road quality, social services, KAPHs, green areas, playgrounds, and stray animal management. Electric lighting, kindergartens, and municipal clinics also received high ratings.
Kastoria was recognized for cleanliness, Alimos for street lighting, and Argos Orestiko for “Help at Home,” schools, kindergartens, and KEPs (with a lower number of responses). Tirnavos excelled in parking lots and municipal clinics, and Kozani stood out in recycling and building services. Elliniko – Argyroupoli led in public transport, while Kalamata received accolades for disabled infrastructure and Komotini for municipal police.
Below baseline performance was noted among the ten largest municipalities, with Peristeri and Larissa achieving a rating of 4.7. Services in Athens averaged 3.4, Thessaloniki scored 3.6, Patras 3.3, Heraklion 2.5, placing it near the bottom, Piraeus 3.8, Volos 4.4, Rhodes 2.8, and Ioannina 3.5.
Why are citizens so critical of services from their local institutions? Konstantinos Allagiannis, mayor of Markopoulo—the lowest-rated municipality in Attica with a score of 2.8—explained that austerity measures have profoundly affected local government, which now tackles significant issues with diminished resources and staff. “Sadly,” he noted, “we must spend a considerable amount of time seeking resources and support from the central administration, whereas such provision is standard across Europe. We strive to leverage every opportunity while also advocating for our citizens’ rights against central administration hurdles.”
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