In a sharp new political broadside, ND parliamentary spokesperson Dimitris Kairidis escalated his criticism of Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, directly linking him to SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras. Speaking on SKAI TV on Wednesday (24 June 2026), Kairidis defended his earlier pointed remarks about Doukas, insisting they constitute legitimate political critique—and describing the mayor as “a complete failure.”
‘He’s Already Gone to Tsipras’
Kairidis claimed that despite being a PASOK member, Doukas has effectively aligned himself with Tsipras—“and we haven’t even noticed.” He accused the mayor of “currying favor with the fringe” through his handling of refugee-related issues, adding that a mayor’s role is “to clean up the city—not to engage in political posturing.”
Contrasting Leadership Styles
He contrasted Doukas’s approach with past mayoral administrations, citing former Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis (referred to by Kairidis as “Bakoyannis,” likely a misstatement) as someone who “didn’t politicize his office”—unlike Doukas, whom he accused of attempting to co-lead with PASOK’s Nikos Androulakis in a manner reminiscent of coalition dynamics more typical of national politics.
Criticism of PASOK–SYRIZA Cooperation
Kairidis blamed the PASOK–SYRIZA alliance at the Athens municipality for “absolutely catastrophic results,” urging citizens to judge the outcomes for themselves. “People can see in practice what these proposals actually deliver,” he said.
Reaction to Backlash
Commenting on the response to his earlier statements, Kairidis expressed surprise that PASOK itself did not issue an official reply. Instead, he noted immediate reactions from figures closely tied to Tsipras—including Eleni Akritha, appointed by Tsipras to the Presidency, and former SYRIZA spokesperson and longtime Tsipras ally Kostas Zachariadis.
A Warning to PASOK
Reiterating his claim, Kairidis asserted: “Doukas has left. He’s gone to Tsipras—and we haven’t realized it yet.” He went further, predicting internal PASOK backlash: “In three months, they’ll be calling him a traitor and a deserter from within PASOK.” The exchange marks another flare-up in the intensifying political friction between New Democracy and Athens’ PASOK-led municipal administration.