Draft:Orestis Mastakas

Orestis Mastakas (Greek: Ορέστης Μάστακας; born in 1995) is a Greek activist, politician, and researcher. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Management at the University of St. Gallen and holds an integrated master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the National Technical University of Athens. He works as a consultant at the Bank of Greece. His initiatives have received mixed press attention both in Greece and internationally.

Student Union Involvement in Greece
During his undergraduate studies, Orestis Mastakas initiated his political engagement by establishing and leading the Roman Revival university party, which was later rebranded as the Independent Student Movement. The party's platform centered on opposing political party interference in university matters, advocating for campus cleanliness, preventing squatting, and fostering academic excellence. Mastakas gained significant media attention in 2016 after one of his promotional videos amassed over 63,000 YouTube views, surpassing the highest viewed video on the official YouTube channel of the New Democracy student wing, which has still not exceeded 52,000 views as of June 2024. While outlets like Neopolis.gr reported on the video in a neutral manner, others such as Luben.tv criticized it harshly, indirectly accusing Mastakas of self-promotion based on grounds of academic excellence instead of focusing on the problems of the students. Some of the video comments also echoed these sentiments. Despite the mixed reactions, the Roman Revival party (classified as “other right wing” in election results) secured more votes than the student wings of both New Democracy and the then-governing SYRIZA.

Student Union Involvement in Switzerland
During his PhD studies, Mastakas became active in the student union at the University of St. Gallen. His agenda, which emphasized defending the interests of PhD students, ensuring equal opportunities regardless of nationality and gender, and increasing transparency in grades, regulations, and communication, was highlighted during an interview with the university magazine. Records of the student union suggest that Mastakas may have been the first external student—meaning one who is not employed by the university and studies remotely— to be elected as a representative across various schools and programs, as well as to the university senate. However, his bid for the presidency of the student union in early 2022 while living in Athens sparked controversy within the student body, triggering the dissemination of xenophobic mass emails that read, “We cannot let dirty Greeks win the elections”, as reported by 20 Minuten, which garnered nationwide media attention. The student union regulations were amended afterward to prohibit the participation of students who do not reside in St. Gallen in presidency elections. As of June 2024, Mastakas remains involved in the student parliament, serving in various capacities.

European Central Bank Representation
In late 2022, during his tenure at the European Central Bank (ECB), Orestis Mastakas orchestrated what he termed the institution's first Trainee elections. In an email distributed to all trainees and marked with the "high importance", he highlighted the absence of elected representatives for trainees, unlike their staff counterparts. He aimed to rectify this disparity by introducing a system for electing trainee representatives.

Mastakas provided trainees with specific candidacy form templates, urging them to complete and submit these before the deadline. Emphasizing adherence to ECB principles, he prohibited any expressions of hate speech, discrimination, or personal attacks. Furthermore, he attached a document outlining his envisioned authority and tasks for the Trainee Committee, which the elected representatives would constitute. The election process sought to appoint five representatives for a six-month term, supplemented by five reserve candidates to ensure continuity in case of early trainee departures. Initially scheduled from October 3 to October 7, the elections apparently encountered delays, eventually taking place in November, as indicated by discussions on the IPSO forum and voting platform results.

Following negotiations, as reported by Politico, trainees subsequently received a salary increase of 100 Euros, raising their monthly income from 1070 to 1170 Euros. Despite receiving recognition from IPSO for his efforts, Mastakas faced criticism for simultaneously organizing the elections and standing as a candidate.

Municipal Politics
In 2023, Mastakas attempted to participate in the municipal elections of Galatsi in Athens as the leader of the “Νέα Πνοή Γαλατσίου” (New Breath of Galatsi) party. Composed predominantly of individuals under the age of 30, the party's primary focus was on addressing traffic issues and advancing Galatsi's transformation into a smart city. Their agenda also encompassed improving the quality of life for both young and elderly citizens, enhancing social welfare, promoting cleanliness, tackling environmental concerns, and fostering cultural activities.

His campaign drew attention for the youthful composition of his party and received predominantly positive coverage in local media. One article author argued that the city needs young people with technical expertise, criticizing what he perceived as the arrogance and political lobbying of established municipal parties and candidates. He supported Orestis Mastakas' vision of transforming Galatsi into a smart city and urged Mastakas not to collaborate with other parties if he failed to secure the required number of municipal advisors. Furthermore, he suggested that opposing candidates should voluntarily resign to make way for the new generation and the "unprecedented iniciative" of the New Breath party. Similarly, another article criticized the efforts of older candidates to form a progressive coalition, suggesting they should step aside for younger individuals who are not affiliated with any political party. According to available sources, it appears that there have been no reported negative remarks about the New Breath of Galatsi party among local media.

Despite his efforts, Mastakas was unable to secure the required number of advisors to participate in the elections. A victory, although unlikely, would have made him one of the youngest mayors in the history of Greece. Some sources suggest that Maria Kakali, who was elected in 2014 at the age of 27, holds the record for the youngest mayor.