Residents of Exarchia marked the first carnival in their neighborhood in nearly three years with festivities that combined tradition and protest. Participants wore masks depicting public figures, including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Mayor of Athens, to voice political and social commentary.

The celebration concluded with the burning of the carnival effigy, known locally as the “metropolitan rat.” Following this, residents opened the fencing around a nearby construction site in the square, allowing children to play soccer and locals to walk their dogs inside, before riot police intervened to re-secure the area.

The event, organized under the slogan “The construction site in the square, the square in the streets,” also featured street basketball, communal kitchens, and informational booths. Residents say the actions highlight the displacement of long-term inhabitants and the loss of public spaces due to stalled development projects.

Marina, a member of the assembly opposing a metro project in the square, explained that the action aimed to “reclaim public space through energy and joy,” while Varvara from the Open Orchestra pointed out that the construction site has been inactive for over a year, unnecessarily blocking community access.

Community representatives also raised concerns about potential closures of local kindergartens and rising housing costs, stressing the need to preserve the neighborhood for residents rather than high-paying newcomers. Residents cited six court rulings supporting their position and emphasized that a public square gains meaning only when it is inhabited and used by the community.