Referendum on TIF redevelopment rejected

It is recalled that the Thessaloniki City Council, following a marathon session lasting approximately eight hours, ultimately rejected the request to hold a referendum on the redevelopment of the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).

The request had been submitted by the Organizing Committee for the Referendum after gathering 23,214 signatures from residents.

The proposed referendum concerned the redevelopment of TIF—namely, the plan for the transformation and utilization of the Thessaloniki International Fairgrounds—an issue with significant urban planning, environmental, and developmental implications for the city.

In its detailed opinion, the Legal Council of the State sets out the reasons why the request for a referendum cannot be accepted. In particular, it emphasizes that the electronic submissions made via an online platform to the Municipality of Thessaloniki by the Organizing Committee—requiring only the completion of basic personal details such as first name, surname, parents’ names, and year of birth—without the use of an approved digital signature or authentication through certified credentials, fail to meet the legal requirements.

As a result, these submissions cannot be regarded as valid and verifiable expressions of intent addressed to the competent administrative authority, namely the City Council, for the initiation of the decision-making process under Article 134(2) of Law 4555/2018 on municipal referendums (majority ruling).