Η Τοπική Αυτοδιοίκηση δεν είναι υπόθεση μόνο των δημάρχων και των δημοτικών συμβουλίων. Είναι υπόθεση της κοινωνίας, των συλλόγων, των επαγγελματικών φορέων και όλων όσοι αγωνίζονται για την ανάπτυξη του τόπου τους.

Δήμος σημαίνει συμμετοχή. Δημοκρατία σημαίνει να ακούγονται όλες οι φωνές. Ανάπτυξη σημαίνει συνεργασία και όχι αποκλεισμούς.

Ιδιαίτερα στους δήμους που διαθέτουν ιαματικές πηγές, η συνεργασία με τους συλλογικούς φορείς δεν είναι πολυτέλεια. Είναι αναγκαιότητα.

Η δική μας πολιτική θέση και η απαίτηση για αλλαγή νοοτροπίας

Ως Σύλλογος δεν πρόκειται να σταματήσουμε να διεκδικούμε μια διαφορετική πολιτική για την Τοπική Αυτοδιοίκηση. Μια πολιτική που θα εξασφαλίζει οικονομική αυτοτέλεια, δημοκρατική λειτουργία, δίκαιη χρηματοδότηση και πραγματικές αναπτυξιακές δυνατότητες για όλους τους δήμους.

Πιστεύουμε ότι απαιτείται διαφορετική κυβερνητική πολιτική, με σαφή προσανατολισμό στην ενίσχυση της Αυτοδιοίκησης. Η ιστορική διαδρομή του ΠΑΣΟΚ και οι πολιτικές του παραδόσεις αποτελούν για εμάς σημείο αναφοράς στην πολιτική συζήτηση για την αποκέντρωση και την κοινωνική ανάπτυξη.

Ωστόσο, δεν αρκούν οι πολιτικές διακηρύξεις. Κάθε κυβέρνηση, όποια και αν είναι, πρέπει να κρίνεται από τις πράξεις της και από το αν στηρίζει πραγματικά τους δήμους και τις τοπικές κοινωνίες.

Το μήνυμά μας προς την ΚΕΔΚΕ από τη Θεσσαλονίκη είναι ξεκάθαρο:

Σταματήστε να αντιμετωπίζετε την ανάπτυξη των ιαματικών πηγών ως ένα δευτερεύον ζήτημα. Βάλτε τον θεραπευτικό τουρισμό στην πρώτη γραμμή της αυτοδιοικητικής ατζέντας. Καλέστε τους φορείς που έχουν γνώση, εμπειρία και πολυετή παρουσία στον χώρο. Ανοίξτε έναν ουσιαστικό διάλογο με τους δήμους των λουτροπόλεων.

Δεν θέλουμε άλλες ημερίδες με ωραία λόγια και καλό φαγητό, που τελειώνουν χωρίς αποτέλεσμα.

Θέλουμε αποφάσεις, χρηματοδοτήσεις, έργα και συγκεκριμένο χρονοδιάγραμμα.

Ευχόμαστε η συνεδρίαση της ΚΕΔΚΕ στην Καλαμάτα να έχει ουσιαστικά αποτελέσματα για την Τοπική Αυτοδιοίκηση. Περιμένουμε, όμως, οι επόμενες κινήσεις της να αποδείξουν ότι ακούει πραγματικά την κοινωνία και τους φορείς της.

Γιατί η δημοκρατία δεν είναι να μιλούν μόνο όσοι βρίσκονται στο προεδρείο. Είναι να συμμετέχουν όλοι. Και η ανάπτυξη δεν γίνεται με λόγια, αλλά με έργα.

Για το Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο του Συλλόγου

Ο Πρόεδρος
Ανέστης Αναστασιάδης

Ο Αντιπρόεδρος
Αχιλλέας Μεταλλούλης

Ο Γραμματέας
Μάκης Κιφοκέρης

Θεσσαλονίκη, 4 Νοεμβρίου 2026

ΠΑΝΕΛΛΗΝΙΟΣ ΣΥΛΛΟΓΟΣ ΙΑΜΑΤΙΚΩΝ ΠΗΓΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΛΟΥΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩΝ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ
Θεσσαλονίκη
Τηλ.: 2310 905164
Email: info@loutropoleis.com

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KEDKE MEETING IN KALAMATA: LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NEED MORE THAN WORDS. THEY NEED DEMOCRACY, POLITICAL WILL AND SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT!

The Panhellenic Association of Thermal Springs and Spa Towns of Greece makes its position clear on the occasion of the KEDKE meeting in Kalamata.

Having followed the public statements made by the President of KEDKE and mayors ahead of the meeting in Kalamata, we once again recognize the serious and growing challenges facing local government in Greece.

Mayors are expressing their concerns about financial constraints, insufficient resources, increased responsibilities and the difficulties they face in meeting the everyday needs of their municipalities.

However, we must raise an important question:

Where is genuine democratic representation within KEDKE? Where is the meaningful participation of all political and local government voices, including the opposition?

Local government must not operate as an extension of whichever government happens to be in power. KEDKE must represent all municipalities and all mayors, regardless of their political affiliation.

It cannot selectively defend local government interests or remember its independence only when problems arise.

We remember earlier periods of government, particularly the administrations of Andreas Papandreou, Costas Simitis and George Papandreou, when an important objective for municipalities was to secure and make effective use of available government funding for public projects and local development.

Today, municipalities face serious financial difficulties. Meetings, announcements and repeated complaints are not enough. What is needed is concrete action, stable funding and genuine decentralization.

We are also concerned about changes to the electoral framework governing local government and the political direction shaping the future of municipalities. Democracy must not be reduced to electoral calculations and political strategies. It must guarantee genuine representation and equal opportunities for participation.

The major issue missing from KEDKE’s agenda: Thermal springs and health tourism

As the Panhellenic Association of Thermal Springs and Spa Towns of Greece, we wish to make a particularly important intervention.

For 23 years, our Association has been fighting for the development of health and therapeutic tourism, the proper utilization of Greece’s natural thermal resources and the modernization of the country’s spa towns.

Unfortunately, despite occasional discussions, conferences and promises, the results remain limited. Many initiatives have remained on paper, in speeches and in meetings that conclude without concrete decisions.

We therefore ask:

• What comprehensive strategy does KEDKE have for municipalities with thermal springs?
• What funding is planned to modernize facilities and infrastructure?
• How will spa towns be supported in creating jobs and strengthening their local economies?
• When will meaningful cooperation begin with associations and organizations that have been working in this field for many years?

Greece possesses an enormous natural resource. Thermal springs are not simply tourist facilities. They represent an important development opportunity, the potential to extend the tourism season, create employment and strengthen dozens of municipalities across the country.

We cannot speak about regional development while leaving our spa towns without an integrated strategy and meaningful support.

KEDKE must also listen to associations and civil society organizations

We also have a personal, but above all institutional, grievance.

Every year, our Association organizes events, undertakes initiatives and sends invitations to mayors throughout Greece. Unfortunately, on many occasions, we have not even received a simple reply or a message acknowledging and supporting our efforts.

We are not asking for public relations, honours or compliments. We are asking for respect, dialogue and cooperation.

Local government is not the exclusive responsibility of mayors and municipal councils. It is a collective responsibility involving society, associations, professional organizations and everyone working for the development of their communities.

A municipality means participation. Democracy means listening to every voice. Development means cooperation, not exclusion.

Particularly in municipalities with thermal springs, cooperation with organizations representing this sector is not a luxury. It is a necessity.

Our political position and the need for a change in approach

Our Association will not stop advocating for a different approach to local government. We believe in a system that guarantees financial autonomy, democratic governance, fair funding and genuine development opportunities for every municipality.

We believe that a different government policy is necessary, one that clearly prioritizes the strengthening of local government. The historical contribution and political traditions of PASOK remain an important point of reference in our discussion about decentralization and social development.

Nevertheless, political declarations are not enough. Every government, regardless of its political identity, must be judged by its actions and by whether it genuinely supports municipalities and local communities.

Our message to KEDKE from Thessaloniki is clear:

Stop treating the development of thermal springs as a secondary issue.

Place health and therapeutic tourism at the heart of the local government agenda.

Invite organizations with knowledge, experience and many years of involvement in this sector.

Establish meaningful dialogue with municipalities that have thermal springs and spa facilities.

We do not need more conferences with impressive speeches and pleasant meals that end without tangible results.

We need decisions, funding, projects and specific implementation timetables.

We hope that the KEDKE meeting in Kalamata will produce meaningful results for local government. However, we expect its future actions to demonstrate that it genuinely listens to society and its representative organizations.

Because democracy does not mean that only those sitting on the governing board have the right to speak. It means that everyone must have the opportunity to participate. And development is not achieved through words, but through action.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,