Interview with Nikos Chardalias, candidate for Attica Regional Governor and Head of the “Attica Forward” Combination
at grtraveller
Mr. Nikos Chardalias if he is elected Governor of Attica in the upcoming elections. Mr. Chardalias, known for his effectiveness in “difficult” situations, talks to grtraveller about his programmatic statements and the priorities he sets in terms of protecting the region from extreme weather events, waste management, urban transport and a number of other projects.
The overriding question, Mr.Chardalias, is one: why on Sunday should the people of Attica vote for you and not for someone else?
The trust of the citizens will be for me a return to the future, with the experience I gained as Mayor of Byron, Regional Councillor of Attica and Executive Secretary of the Region of Central Greece, grafted with the experience I then had as a government official, facing unprecedented situations, such as the pandemic.
It will be a return to where I started, with the first priority being to tackle everyday problems, to strengthen security, to improve the conditions that define our quality of life.
A return with the ambition and optimism to make Attica more productive, safer, greener, more social.
And all this by changing speed, changing rhythms. The times are not waiting and our fellow citizens – tired of analysis, fireworks and big talk – are demanding solutions.
I ask for the trust of the citizens to claim and fight for them. To take Attica forward, higher, faster. I ask everyone to be present at the ballot box on Sunday to take the fate of our country into our own hands.
The people in Attica and not only after the extreme phenomena in Thessaly, have been gripped by intense concern as they do not rule out something similar. What is your response, what are you planning to do if the citizens trust you?
After the unprecedented, devastating and tragic flooding in Thessaly, we all agree that we have no time to lose. We must – and we are already preparing – to take immediate, but also long-term action. Let us first of all see what is necessary and what we can do in the immediate future. Exhaust every effort to move forward immediately with projects that have been launched. But also to move on to preparing studies based on the new data for a new generation of projects as soon as possible. To this end, we have already prepared well-targeted initiatives:
Firstly, the consultation with the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis so that there will be a legislative intervention in the immediate future to remove the overlaps and overlaps. The Ministry of Infrastructure cannot be responsible for some of the streams in Attica, the Region for others and the Municipalities for others. It is, after all, something that he himself announced in the Government’s Programme Statements and repeated in the IET.
Second, the operation of a Regional Civil Protection Centre, fully equipped and adequately staffed to prepare a full protection plan. And this, combined with the supply of the necessary modern equipment for the Region and the Municipalities.
Thirdly, the establishment of an Observatory – which will report directly to the Regional Governor – and will act as an “eye” and “scalpel” against bureaucratic red tape and delays. It will be composed of analysts, engineers, lawyers and economists, who will monitor the development of all projects in Attica and provide specific solutions.
Fourthly – if and when necessary – I will not hesitate, in view of the imminent danger, to make use of Law 4662/2020 on Civil Protection and declare Attica in a state of emergency, in order to proceed without any delay with the works needed for its flood protection.
We have the institutions, we have the financial tools that are needed. The NSRF, the Public Investment Programme, the Recovery Fund and even the European Investment Bank can provide us with resources for the new generation of flood protection projects. We can also draw on Community funds from green and urban flood protection programmes. And we will.
Apart from shielding Attica against extreme weather events, have you set traffic and the problem of garbage as your priorities, what are you planning?
As far as waste management is concerned, we are planning a change of model, important projects, but also cooperation not only of all the Municipalities, but also of all the residents of Attica. Within the first three years of our mandate we will have put in place everything needed to put a definitive end to the problem. It is not only about the image of our neighbourhoods, but also about the health of all of us. We will emphasise the separate collection of bio-waste and the construction of plants for its treatment, recycling and reuse.
At the same time, we will develop targeted actions for traffic and road safety, with the preparation of new traffic studies, the upgrading of the Road Traffic Centre, the use of new technologies such as “smart traffic lights” for traffic management and cameras to tackle crime.
In addition, we will work with the relevant Ministries to make public transport better and more citizen-friendly.
You talk about an emphasis on citizen safety. Is this within the remit of the Regional Governor? What are you going to do?
If the citizens of Attica entrust me with the duties of the Regional Governor, they can be sure that I will not hide behind any responsibilities. My responsibility will be whatever afflicts, whatever torments the citizen in his daily life. And this bet concerns each of the 66 neighbourhoods of Attica separately.
I will be there, next to them, facing their problems, in the field and not in the office. And my constant concern will be the safety of all.
Security against extreme weather events, for which we are developing a comprehensive plan.
Safety in the face of health risks, such as waste, the management of which we will give a definitive answer in three years’ time.
But also security against the middle-class crime that plagues our neighbourhoods, for which we will be in constant cooperation with the Ministry of Citizen Protection.
