Contradiction on the core of the provisions of the new electoral system for local authorities, which the government is expected to submit, arose between Nikos Pappapresident of K.O. of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, and Theodori Livaniouduring the KEDE conference, which is being held in Rhodes.

The occasion was the announcement and description of the upcoming changes by Mr. Livanios, changes which concern the selection of municipal and regional authorities in one round, but in two phases. With the citizens coming to the ballot box once, however, declaring their preference for up to two candidate combinations, while then (second phase), if there is no winner with 50% +1, the first two combinations will be counted b’ options on the ballot papers of the factions that did not pass this phase.

Nikos Pappas spoke about “a completely new electoral system, which can potentially give municipal authorities, which in the first voting option have, for example, 20% and in the second phase win the majority”. To add immediately after: “Imagine the problem that will be created and how much the popular mandate will be questioned if in the first choice vote we had a combination with 40%”.

According to him, with the current electoral system, there is obviously a reversal and alliances ahead of the second round, but “these are happening in front of the people’s eyes. Programmatic agreements and convergences are made and the people judge on them. These are not done in advance and in a possibly shadowy way.”

The president of K.O. of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance concluded, regarding the specific issue: “In any case, the field of Local Self-Government is a field of wider consensus. And the proposed electoral system does not go in this direction.”