Debate erupts between Zeybek and Hacıgene over minority school project in Xanthi

A flooring renovation project announced by the Greek Ministry of Education for the Xanthi Minority Middle and High School has sparked political tension between local officials in Western Thrace. Hüseyin Zeybek, MP for Xanthi from the New Left party, criticized the initiative, prompting a strong response from Irfan Hacıgene, Deputy Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Zeybek replied with a harsh counterstatement.

The Ministry of Education announced a €37,000 flooring renovation for the Xanthi Minority School, presented by Minister Sofia Zaharaki as part of an “improvement plan.” However, MP Zeybek dismissed the project as a mere “band-aid solution” to the school's long-standing structural issues.

Zeybek argued that the school building faces serious structural risks and warned:

“If the Minister believes that laying vinyl flooring will solve the dangerous structural issues threatening dozens of students, she is gravely mistaken.”

He insisted that only the construction of a new, modern school building could serve as a lasting solution. Zeybek also invited ministry officials to visit the site in person.

Hacıgene Responds to Zeybek
In response, Deputy Governor Irfan Hacıgene defended the renovation plan via social media. He acknowledged that minority schools had been neglected for years, but argued that current efforts should not be dismissed.

Accusing Zeybek of inaction during his party’s time in government, Hacıgene stated:

“You were in power for years — what did you do for these schools then?”

He described the current project as a first step to revive a building that had been "abandoned to die" by previous administrations:

“We are giving an ‘aspirin’ to save a school that others left for dead.”

Hacıgene added that education should not become a battleground for political competition and accused minority media outlets of biased reporting. He called on the media to “act according to the principles of true journalism and provide the public with accurate and impartial information.”

Zeybek Fires Back: “Be Accountable for Your Promises”
Zeybek responded swiftly, saying the attacks were not only aimed at him personally but also reflected a dismissive attitude toward the education of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.

He recalled promises Hacıgene allegedly made before the 2023 local elections:

“You stood in front of students and parents and said, ‘We will rebuild this school, and prefabricated classrooms will be our first step.’ Today, there are no prefabs, no projects, and not a single concrete step. Yet you applaud a €37,000 floor renovation as a ‘historic intervention.’”

Zeybek reminded the public of student protests in 2019 and 2023 over the double-shift system, which has led to ongoing student hardship. He criticized Hacıgene for making speeches in the past but failing to deliver tangible results.

He concluded by challenging Hacıgene to honor his commitments:

“Either be accountable for the promises you made, or at least remain silent and stop insulting the intelligence of this community.”