Athens mayor criticizes previous administration’s financial handling

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas criticized the previous administration's handling of the municipality's finances during a meeting Wednesday that was held to discuss the 2023 financial report, noting that it was a "financial year to be avoided."

Offering a contrasting picture, former mayor Kostas Bakoyiannis, defeated by his socialist PASOK-backed opponent in a runoff municipal election last October, accused the mayor of "pulling the handbrake."

Despite the exchange, the Athens municipality's financial report for 2023 was approved by a majority of the city council, following its endorsement by the two main factions linked to the mayor and his predecessor. 

According to Doukas, municipal companies reported significant losses, with poor financial management of organizations leading to cash deficits, inadequate project planning, missed opportunities for revenue...