EL.A.S. İskeçe launches dialogue series with local community
The first open meeting of the political movement was held on Thursday, July 23, marking the beginning of a dialogue cycle aimed at identifying local problems and gathering perspectives from the community.
According to Christos Gkarbounis, who coordinated the event, the meeting was not intended to present finalized policy positions but rather to record the most important issues affecting citizens and highlight areas that EL.A.S. considers priorities for the development of its political program.
Agricultural production was among the main topics discussed during the meeting. Farmer Dimitris Zouboulis from Melisssa, İskeçe, highlighted the difficulties faced by agricultural producers, the impact of current agricultural policies on the sustainability of farming, and the decline of rural areas.
Public healthcare was another major issue raised during the discussion. Dora Plastira, a nurse at İskeçe General Hospital, described ongoing challenges at the facility, noting that despite recent recruitment of doctors in certain specialties, significant shortages remain, particularly among nursing staff. She also referred to the limited operation of the hospital’s Internal Medicine Clinic, which plays a central role in the functioning of a general hospital.
Culture and the decline of cultural activity in the region were also addressed. Publisher and literary figure Michalis Spanidis emphasized the need for a comprehensive cultural policy, stronger municipal libraries, promotion of reading, and greater engagement between young people and cultural activities.
During a video intervention, Angelos Kavourtziklis, a political science graduate from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki who is completing postgraduate studies in Belgium, discussed the causes of brain drain and why many young people who remain interested in public affairs are becoming increasingly distant from the political system.
The meeting marked EL.A.S.’s effort to build its political platform through direct engagement with society, emphasizing citizen participation, exchange of experiences, and grassroots involvement in shaping its future program.
