The “Christmas spirit” didn’t stop the rivalry between Haris Doukas and Nikos Hardalias over New Year’s Eve in Athens. The conflict arose after the decision of the Attica Regional Governor to organize a New Year’s celebration at the “Christmas Village” in Pedion tou Areos, while the Mayor of Athens hosts 2025 in Syntagma Square.

Traditionally, Athens rings in the New Year with a central event in Syntagma, organized by the Municipality of Athens. This year, however, two simultaneous events are planned. The Mayor’s attempt on Sunday afternoon to persuade the Regional Governor to join him at Syntagma or reschedule the region’s event fell flat. “Mr. Hardalias refused,” said an aide to the Athens Mayor.

“It is absolutely false and fabricated to claim that the Municipality of Athens requested the postponement of the festive events at the Region of Attica’s Christmas Village for New Year’s Eve at Pedion tou Areos,” sources from the Region countered earlier.

According to the program announced by Nikos Hardalias, the New Year’s Eve event will feature a concert with Christos Mastoras, while Athens Mayor Haris Doukas will host “Foivos’ Rooftop” in Syntagma, with Foivos Delivorias and Natassa Bofiliou.

Sources from the Region noted that not only was no postponement requested, but Mr. Hardalias personally invited Mr. Doukas to visit the Region’s Christmas Village together, with Mr. Doukas appearing initially supportive. The same sources stated that Mr. Hardalias assured Doukas in a phone conversation that after the New Year’s celebrations at Pedion tou Areos, he would attend the Municipality’s event at Syntagma with his family. “This is the true story, and anyone trying to distort the truth has no place in our political culture,” they added.

Sources from the Region emphasized that since the day the Regional Authority assumed its duties, there has been substantive and ongoing cooperation with the Municipality of Athens, just as with the other 65 municipalities of the basin. The Region of Attica has developed a holistic plan to implement targeted actions to promote the tourism product and growth potential of Athens and the wider area.

“Any attempt to foster a climate of discord or engage in cheap theatrics through leaks is alien to our political ethos and irrelevant to us. The Region of Attica exists to serve all citizens and all 66 neighborhoods of the basin,” Hardalias’ associates underlined. They concluded: “All decisions of the Regional Authority are made with purely administrative criteria, in a spirit of unity, far from political biases. It goes without saying that Christmas is a celebration of joy for young and old and should not be used to heal political vanities. Anyone trying to exploit the festive atmosphere for personal gains will face the power of truth and unity.”

Naturally, the matter wasn’t raised at the working meeting between Athens Mayor Haris Doukas and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday morning. The meeting, which lasted over an hour, focused on constructing Panathinaikos’ stadium in Votanikos and addressing funding issues. Athens Municipality sources later described the meeting as “productive” and conducted in a “very positive atmosphere.”