Athens, January 5 – A significant reshuffle has been announced today within the Athens Municipal Council, as Mayor Haris Doukas implements a ‘rotation’ policy for key positions. Manolis Velegrakis, the outgoing President of the Municipal Council, will be succeeded by Despina Limniotaki, a native of Heraklion, Crete.
Leadership Transition in Athens Municipal Council
The change in leadership was confirmed today, marking a new phase for the Athens Municipality’s governance. Manolis Velegrakis, who previously held the presidency, will not be renewing his term in this role. Instead, he is slated to assume a leadership position within a legal entity of the municipality, aligning with Mayor Doukas’ strategy of rotating officials to maximize their contributions across different sectors.
Despina Limniotaki, originally from Heraklion, is poised to take over as the new President of the Municipal Council. Limniotaki is not new to the municipal administration, having previously served as an appointed Public Health Advisor within the Athens Municipal Authority. Her appointment signals a fresh perspective and continued commitment to public service within the council.
Mayor Doukas’ ‘Rotation’ Policy
Mayor Haris Doukas emphasized that the ‘rotation’ policy is designed to ensure that no official becomes permanent in their position, allowing for continuous evaluation and optimization of their performance. “No one is permanent in their position; everyone is utilized and judged on the performance of the work they undertake,” stated Mayor Doukas. He added, “We are determined, with new momentum, to fulfill the mandate given to us by the citizens for the administration of the municipality and to implement our programmatic commitments in their entirety, despite the difficulties created by government policy.” This approach aims to bring new energy and diverse experiences to various municipal roles, fostering a dynamic and responsive local government.
New Appointments and Responsibilities
The reshuffle includes several other key appointments across various departments, reflecting a comprehensive restructuring for the upcoming year:
- Olga Dourou: Deputy Mayor of Cleanliness and Recycling
- Georgios Apostolopoulos: Deputy Mayor of Environment and Green Spaces
- Eleni Zontirou: Deputy Mayor of Municipal Police and Public Common Areas
- Georgios-Konstantinos Giannaros: Deputy Mayor of Financial Planning
- Panagiotis-Paris Harlavtis: Deputy Mayor of Technical Services, Municipal Property & Digital Governance
- Maria Evangelidou: Deputy Mayor of Urban Regeneration and Resilience
- Maria Stratigaki: Deputy Mayor of Equality, Municipal Clinics and Child Protection (unpaid)
- Thomas Georgiadis: Deputy Mayor of Education & Intergenerational Solidarity
- Asimo Fountzoula: Deputy Mayor of Social Solidarity and Urban Fauna & Philanthropy
- Zacharia Agrogianni-Moukriotou: Deputy Mayor of Civil Society & Entrepreneurship (unpaid)
- Andreas Grammatikogiannis: Deputy Mayor of Civil Protection (unpaid)
Additionally, new appointed municipal councilors have been named to oversee specific areas:
- Christina Vasileiou: Early Childhood and Children’s Summer Camps
- Evangelos Giannopoulos: New Generation
- Tryfon Kavvathas: Hill Management
- Vasiliki Barka: Action Coordination and Neighborhood Interconnection
- Artemis Skoumpourdi: Historical Promotion of the City of Athens
- Thanasis Cheimonas: Social Integration of Immigrants and Refugees
- Nikos Chrysogelos: Climate Pact and Social Economy
- Elena Mantzavinou: Accessibility
Roxani Bei, who previously held the role of Deputy Mayor of Cleanliness and Recycling and was the top-ranked municipal councilor in terms of votes, will be proposed at the next Municipal Council meeting for the presidency of the largest municipal organization, the Organization of Culture, Sports, and Youth.
These changes are expected to bring renewed focus and efficiency to the Athens Municipality’s operations, as it aims to address the needs of its citizens and implement its programmatic commitments for the coming year.
Source: [cretalive.gr](https://www.cretalive.gr/eida-akoysa/kritikos-feygei-kritikia-analambanei-sto-dimo-athinaion), [protothema.gr](https://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/1751026/anashimatismos-ston-dimo-athinaion-kaneis-monimos-sti-thesi-tou-oloi-axiologoudai-eipe-o-haris-doukas/)
