Malakates: “We are trying to have everything ready by May 2026” – What he said about Leoforos and OAKA

Open discussion on Double Regeneration was held in the closed “Pavlos Giannakopoulos”, in the presence of the president of Panathinaikos AO, Panagiotis Malakatemembers of the administration and members-friends of the “clover”, but also of the Mayor of Athens, Harry Doukas.

After the Mayor’s presentation, questions were asked by the members of the group present, in a process that lasted quite some time and covered some critical issues regarding the progress of the project.

The questions of the world and the Duka-Malakate answers in detail:

For the contract with PAE Panathinaikos and the 415 thousand euros and if there is a ceiling:

Duke: “This contract has been signed by the previous municipal authority. We are not yet in the contract implementation phase. It is valid that it is exactly signed.”

For the facilities of the Amateur Panathinaikos:

Malakates – Doukas: “The facilities have been presented. There is a funding gap, which concerns those who have the commitment to implement it. Banks are obliged to build the facilities. There is no specific amount that has been signed. The 30 million is based on the study that was done. If along the way the amount becomes larger, this concerns the Eleonia GDP. The 13 million is about the MoU, it is not part of the contract. This is talking about an indicative budget, not a final one. The commitment is to the specifications (e.g. the square footage of the sports field), not the money, because the prices change. If there is a question of refusal by the banks to cover the amount, then there is a question of complaint”.

Regarding the contracts signed by Akritidis (member of the management of AO and at the same time CEO of Anaplasi Athens SA) and whether it is unethical:

Softeners: “I don’t see anything unethical and nothing against Panathinaikos”

Regarding the problems encountered by Mr. Doukas:

Duke: “It was a rubbish dump. Excavation had been done in the past, but then things took a turn for the worse. And now I didn’t even have the money. We did some tricky maneuvering and solved the problem. It is important that the cleaning was undertaken by the same company that is the contractor of the project. This project is a lifetime opportunity. All the previous time nothing was happening. We have to run.”

On whether the May 2026 date can be moved:

Duke: “We have not received any discussion from the contractors about changing the date. An effort must be made to have everything ready then.”

For the relocation of PAE to OAKA and Avenue:

Softeners: “The stadium on the Avenue will be demolished only when we get the amateur situations and the new stadium in hand. It is contracted. These two projects are intended to be prepared at the same time, so that one of the two is not left active if the other is prepared first. No problem signing the date for Amateur installations. Was wrong. The major issue is to get the facilities. He had to sign the project on this date in order for the permits to proceed.”

For the condition of the Avenue and the “Kl. Pavlos Giannakopoulos”.

Softeners: “What we could do for so many years we have done and we will continue to do it. You are right about the state of the surrounding area. I’ll accept that it’s negligence. There are financial difficulties, we are trying to have competitive divisions.”

Regarding the current situation in Botanikos:

Duke: “Botanikos is a dump right now. Let’s go regenerate a degraded area. A huge green space for free, a park for free, to create a new green lung for the city, making at the same time a local ornament. Such regeneration has to be done by the national garden”.

For the name that the demolition permit will have:

Duke: “The Municipality submitted the application for the demolition permit with the consent of Panathinaikos. It will be issued in the name of the Municipality. The area here is a shared green space and the rights here have been transferred to the corresponding area in Botanikos. In the municipal councils they say that the whole Municipality deals with Panathinaikos. To still be talking about them in 2024 shows why there is a serious problem. We need to pick up the pace on the construction site.”

Softeners: “We received a situation from 2006. A law. The plot is a shared green space and the stadium is used by Panathinaikos. Since it is a shared green space, it belongs to the Municipality. We put in the contract that any rights that exist on the Avenue were automatically transferred to Botanikos.”

On whether the Mayor can terminate the contracts:

Duke: “I can do nothing, as was done with my predecessors. I will fight to give Panathinaikos two new stadiums.”

For whether it is the definitive study presented:

Duke: “Yes, it is final.”

Softeners: “The study is final”

For the Amateur facilities that are outside of the Presidential Decree:

Duke: “Not all of them are. The pool is outside the red line of the presidential decree. We are currently working on this part. We are close to the solution. I will announce it when the solution is final and approved by the competent authorities. We are trying to avoid amending the presidential decree. If necessary, it will be a lengthy process. It has happened many times in Helliniko”.

For the binding nature of the MoU:

Duke: “The MoU has no binding force. It’s a record. What is binding is the study. Then there is the application study, which is very close to the definitive study. The cost list is essential in the application study”.

For the Dual Regeneration fund and the deadline it has from the Recovery Fund until December 2025:

Duke: “We know the dates very well. We can get two or three extra months if we are in a good spot. There is a n+2 from the Recovery Fund. The Recovery Fund is waiting for us. We don’t have a contractor yet.”

As for whether the P.A.O. to keep Panathinaikos with any possible stadiums in the Avenue area:

Softeners: “We will make such efforts to keep the fields that will be created in the area of ​​the Avenue for the children of the Panathinaikos family”

On whether the presidential decree can be changed:

Duke: “Changes can be made to the presidential decree. But that can be done after we put together a group of changes that will be done as a package.”