“Kaminis says he’s independent, but he is backed by PASOK-DIMAR”

After a meeting with journalists he announced the official start of the electoral campaign, which is on Wednesday, March 12. In the memo he distributed, he noted that he doesn’t believe in “elite and cliques” and argued that Athens needs a mayor “who will end the party opinions in local administration”. He also said that Georgios Kaminis doesn’t represent this model, because “in 2010 celebrated his victory along with George Papandreou and now he states independent, but he is backed by PASOK-DIMAR”.

He also mentioned that the mayor of Athens “faithfully implement the memorandum as a simple accountant”. He acknowledges that he made mistakes during his tenure the period 2006-2010, but he added that "errors are made only when we work and strive." Regarding his priorities, the social cohesion and the effective support of the weak are on the top of his list. He follows “the feeling of security of citizens in the center of Athens and in neighborhoods, the combat of illegal trade and illegal immigration in cooperation with the police, the support of small businesses and the boost of tourism".

Kaklamanis launched attack against “the myth of economic housekeeping” from Kaminis and notes that the current mayor began his tenure with 30 million “dowry”, that spending on salary costs (due to single wage, contractual redundancy, retirement and mobility-availability) decreased by 118 million euros for the years 2011-2013, that salaries of elected fell due to "Kallikratis" by 500,000 euros and that social benefits were reduced by 38.5 million. About the operating income, Kaklamanis said that from 2010 to 2013 it decreased by 105.3 million euros, that the City is facing problem to raise its own revenues and that the agency Moody's provides a high probability of bankruptcy.

Also Kaklamanis argues that the period 2006-2010 the property of the municipality had increased by 13%, while in the days of the current mayor it declined. He blames Kaminis of lying, when he talks about 45 million surplus, because the surplus of 2013 will be known on March 31, 2014, when the Annual Report of 2013 will be filed and that the surplus of 2012 was 12.47 million. Finally, as part of his campaign he listed the projects made in all areas 2006-2010.