New feud between the current and previous Mayor of Athens on the occasion of Double Regeneration! Haris Doukas and Kostas Bakoyannis came to a verbal confrontation at the last Municipal Council (25/11) over the issue of the financial gap, which has arisen, regarding the construction of the Amateur’s facilities Panathinaikou in Botanicus.
It is characteristic, in fact, that the meeting lasted 7.5 hourswith the issue of Botany being raised by Mr. Bakoyannis at the beginning, with the former mayor posing a question to Mr. Duke.
So, the dialogue that came out today (26/11) was as follows:
Bakoyannis: “We raised a question at the previous council, which in turn raised a number of questions, which I am taking to the council today. Practical: Double Regeneration without an Amateur does not make sense. The Amateur is the ‘key’ that allows us to unlock this very large development program. I asked you last time we are with the Amateur facilities. You responded by making an attack on us, but that is little of our business, little of our interest… History has been written. If you will now be so kind as to answer now plainly with the where are we, what steps have been taken, what is the timetable and how will we move forward?»
Duke: “On the matter of the Amateur, I raise my hands, Mr. Bakoyannis. There was a presentation of the final study last May. You knew it since then, we received a letter after many months that costs close to 30 million euro. You had the 30 million guaranteed. euro for the Amateur? This is the question you need to answer…».
Bakoyannis: “And the weather is our fault. And it’s our fault that the Earth turns. And it’s our fault 11 months later. I will not respond to your attacks, they are not about anyone. They characterize you. Mr. Mayor, I asked a question about the Amateur. You are 11 months administration. You told us that you saved the Double Regeneration, brought it out of Tartarus, brought it up to Olympus. So I ask you practically. What will happen from now on? What are the basic steps? What are the timetables? I am hearing the amount of 30 million euros for the Amateur facilities for the first time. We presented a study that did not have an implementation study and therefore had no budget. Obviously, if there is this amount, it arose after we left. My question is:
1. Will you stick to that amount? I’m talking practically, Mr. Mayor, the point is to get the project done. Do you accept this amount or will you try to manage the study, rationalize the study so that to reduce the budget?
2. After doing this, you obviously claim that the Municipality cannot cover the financial gap alone. Okay… Will you make an effort to come to an agreement with other bodies such as the Region, the Ministry, possibly with the PAE, with the banks again to share this amount? Why might it be too much for one, but little by little be an amount that one can bear? Practically, the question, Mr. Mayor, is what you will do from now on. And we are here, if we can be useful to support you…».
From the above one can understand that no answer was given and no solution was found, with Mr. Duke not to be reinstalled in the matter after Bakoyannis’s deputation and to enter into the discussion of the members of the council other issues.
Source: Sport Fm
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