Article by SYRIZA-PS President Sokratis Famellos in Voria.gr on the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF)
“Thessaloniki Demands Development and Real Projects – Not Just Announcements”
The appearance of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) back in 2019 was accompanied by grand promises for Thessaloniki. Six years later, these hopes have proven false: the majority of the promised projects have not moved forward, and meanwhile, rural areas of Thessaloniki and Macedonia are being abandoned.
The Prime Minister’s office has been downgraded, local government at both levels has been weakened, and no reform proposals have been submitted regarding the metropolitan governance of the city or the development of Northern Greece.
Thessaloniki was excluded from the Recovery Fund, and its economy is suffocated by low purchasing power and rising operating costs.
What Thessaloniki Really Needs
Every autumn during TIF, Thessaloniki needs a genuine public dialogue that delivers results — a dialogue that can restore public trust in politics. We can no longer afford empty showcases and announcements without real outcomes.
The appearance of 20 ministers at a single event cannot mask the fact that key projects like the Logistics Center at Gonou, and the road and rail links to the Thessaloniki Port (OLTH), have stalled for six years. As a result, Thessaloniki cannot function as a commercial and transport hub for the Balkans.
Nor can the six-year gap be filled by showcasing projects that were either initiated under SYRIZA, such as the Pediatric Hospital in Filiro, or were unblocked by SYRIZA, such as the Metro. The Metro has seen an additional three years of delays due to the current government’s handling, particularly with the removal of antiquities at Venizelou station.
Moreover, no studies or funding have been initiated for the Metro’s expansion to the western districts or to the airport. The only project that advanced was the Flyover, and even that lacks proper traffic and spatial planning and has serious environmental shortcomings.
On the TIF Redevelopment
For six years, the government has attempted to privatize the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) and turn it into a real estate project, effectively undermining public space and the historic public role of TIF.
The recent announcement by Mitsotakis to revise the redevelopment plan, after pressure from citizens, stakeholders, and SYRIZA-PS, remains unclear in terms of:
- Who will manage the project
- The technical, financial, and environmental aspects involved
SYRIZA-PS’s Vision
Precious time has been lost for our city.
SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance calls for:
- Exhibition activities to remain in the hands of Thessaloniki’s institutions
- A modern exhibition and conference center
- A green, unified, public open space in the city center
- Adequate public parking
- Incorporation of the Agia Foteini area and parts of the 3rd Army Corps site into the project
Thessaloniki does not need another list of empty promises or recycled project announcements. The economic and social stagnation, as well as project delays, demand a political change.
A Progressive Government Can Deliver
Only a progressive government can:
- Achieve real decentralization of the economy and decision-making
- Build robust infrastructure in the regions
- Guarantee access to public goods like healthcare, education, and water
- Establish effective public policies for social and student housing
Working collaboratively with local stakeholders, such a government, could advance metropolitan governance and a new Regulatory Plan for the city, built with transparency and backed by scientific expertise.
This is the path toward true prosperity, at a time when international challenges and crises are intensifying, and a new political and economic model is urgently needed.
