Mayoral candidates hedge green issues
Candidates for Athens mayor were approached by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage and asked to commit, in writing, to improving the quality of life in the capital, but failed to offer any concrete proposals, the society said yesterday. A questionnaire sent to former Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis, PASOK’s candidate Costas Skandalidis, Synaspismos Left Coalition’s aspirant Alexis Tsipras and others was returned with all the right boxes ticked. All candidates backed recycling, more parks and bicycle lanes. But none elaborated on their responses, the society said. Kaklamanis, who is a clear favorite for the October 15 elections, called for expropriations to restrict the height of buildings and said he would support a toll system charging drivers to enter central Athens if it is approved by a feasibility study.