On some outlying islands national elections they retain the aura of past decades. Regular communication between deputies and the islanders, a personal phone call before arriving on the island, a warm handshake and a promise of change in the next four years are the main elements of the pre-election period. In others, we seem to have no choice.

In all cases, Akritans on the islands say that the experience and atmosphere of the elections themselves are, by definition, strongly local in nature, as if they were municipal elections of a somewhat larger scale. The ideological part recedes and unresolved, old problems prevail.

“Seven deputies from major parties have visited the island in the last twenty days.”

“Seven deputies from the main parties have visited the island in the last twenty days. A few days before their arrival, we get a call from the offices and inform about the time and place of the performance. They tell us that our presence will do them credit. For example, you are in a cafe, and after your phone, the other ten gradually call, ”a 27-year-old girl describes“ K ”. John Mastropavlova, its permanent resident The Heroic Island of Kasos (this is the official name of the island since 2018), about 600 voters.

Ms Mastropavlou, who works at the island’s airport, never wanted to leave Kasos because she loves her place so much. But he would like to be able to live in it in better conditions. However, she does not consider the method of tete-tete talks with candidates for deputies to be negative. “These rallies in the context of the elections for us our main opportunity to talk to them about our problemsshe speaks herself.

As you might expect, the demands are strongly localized, often much more urgent and specific than those for voters in the rest of the country. “The main issue that torments us is healthcare. Both of my sisters once had serious health problems. we experienced great moments of anxiety while waiting for an ambulance. Sometimes you have to urgently call politicians for a decision to come,” Ms. Mastropavlova notes.

However, there are anxieties common to mainland Greeks. “We are also very concerned about accuracy” In Casso we have the most expensive gasoline in the Dodecanese. It reached 2.30 euros per litre. Many products are more expensive by as much as 10 euros. Many islanders order essentials online. Others, we’re trying to support local stores, but it’s not easy at all.”

However, there are also issues that are resolved in just one election. For example, the ferry service. A month ago, Kasos was connected to Piraeus by an old and problematic boat. “In bad weather, the island became inaccessible,” Mrs. Mastropavlova characteristically says, and continues: “A month ago, a more modern boat finally arrived., which takes 12 hours to get here from Piraeus, instead of the previous 24. Some will say that the request was granted because of the elections. This is true. But when you go so many days without medication, you make sure that everything is finally resolved, and at the same time you hope that the solution will be permanent.”

“A sense of forgetfulness overshadows the national elections”