South Corfu mayor resigns over unresolved water crisis

Vasilis Himariotis, the mayor of South Corfu in Greece, has resigned due to the persistent water shortage and drought affecting the region. In his resignation letter, Himariotis emphasized that the crisis had escalated beyond the municipality’s capacity and criticized the central government for failing to provide necessary support.

LACK OF COOPERATION AND GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

Himariotis stated that repeated requests for dialogue with the Ministry of Environment were ignored and that a lack of coordination at the local level further hindered progress. He described his resignation as a decision made out of “responsibility and honor,” acknowledging that without a sustainable solution, continuing in office was no longer tenable.

The mayor’s resignation has drawn solidarity from other local leaders across the Ionian Islands, many of whom face similar infrastructure challenges. Despite stepping down, Himariotis vowed to continue advocating for his community as an “active citizen.”

The development has once again highlighted the difficulties faced by Greece’s local administrations in addressing critical infrastructure issues like water management.