Mitsotakis: 'We will never allow the things that happened in the last decade to happen again'

In a speech wrapping up ruling New Democracy's 15th Congress on Sunday, Prime Minister and ND President Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that its conclusion gave grounds for greater optimism and was being converted into "new hope for Greece and new hope for Europe." He predicted that the European People's Party (EPP) will once again emerge as the victor of the European elections on June 9, while the 15th Congress had highlighted the valuable contribution made by ND in the past decades. New Democracy was the "responsible and reliable power that is ready to contribute to the new challenges," he added, while noting the need to "forge the cohesion of the societies of all the European peoples, as a challenge and reply to populism."

Mitsotakis stressed that populism in its various forms, which could be either far right or far left, was the greatest danger facing all the European countries: "The populist demagogues want to raise artificial divisions, which as Ursula [von der Leyen] pointed out, was something that Greece has paid a high price for in the past. We will never allow the things that happened in the past decade to happen again. The economic crisis lasted longer in Greece because populism prevented the country from rallying round. Syntagma Square is not far from here. We remember the two sides of the lie uniting in anti-European, supposedly anti-systemic demonstrations."

Greece went from laggard to leader in economic growth

"We must make our continent competitive again. I am one of the first supporters of the issue of a eurobond that will shield Europe as a whole. To those who say that such things are impossible, I reply that they said the same thing in 2020 but we finally persuaded them and created the Recovery Fund," Mitsotakis said.

The European elections in June are crucial, he added, stressing that the MEPs elected must have a "European logic and national voice" and that "the opposition may hope but we will not give them the satisfaction..."

He also emphasised that Greece stands at side of Cyprus in seeking a just solution of the Cyprus issue, noting that this "tragedy of 50 years" must finally end, as the black anniversary of 50 years since the Turkish invasion and occupation of the island was approaching. "The stronger that Greece is in Europe, the stronger will Hellenism be in Europe, the stronger will Cyprus be in Europe. Greece and Cyprus are one," he added.

The prime minister also referred to the transformation of Greece from an economic laggard to a leader in economic growth, with an increase in investments, reduction of unemployment an easing of public debt and higher wages and pensions.

"We are closing the gap with Europe and we want to close it everywhere. In this effort, we have the support of the EU," Mitsotakis said, while accusing the opposition parties of seeking to stop this progress and of "polluting the political dialogue with toxicity."

"I have never concealed the problems. I was the first to assume responsibility. The course is one of constant progress, however, in spite of the difficulties, and there must not be an election campaign full of lies....Even less is there any place today for the instrumentalisation of pain, as is happening with the national trauma of Tempi. As if there are some Greeks who are more greatly grieved by this tragedy. On the way to the polls we must turn our backs on division," he concluded.

Mitsotakis noted that the war against the deeply rooted problems "sometimes seemed unequal", with the results judged in the "limited time of the electoral arcs" and with the opposition "constantly undermining the steps that are taken." He added that the government was doing the best it can to deal with high prices, to strengthen the Armed Forces, modernise hospitals, improve education and the operation of non-state, non-profit universities and create a public sector in the service of citizens.

He noted that the 15th Congress had been an opportunity to learn lessons and chart a course for the future, adding that ND had remained true to its founding principles and succeeded in becoming the body expressing a majority movement, which had sustained it through the difficult years of the crisis and rallied together the forces that led to the party's electoral victories in 2019 and 2023.

"The citizens that voted for us saw something, especially the citizens of the poor, working-class districts...ND proved itself, in this way, the most resilient formation of the post-junta era," Mitsotakis said, adding that "the country's interests are always our steady compass."

He concluded by noting that a vote for ND in the upcoming European elections was a vote for the stability and progress of the country, and said 'yes' to a better Europe. He pointed out that the results of the 15th Congress went beyond its conclusions, as they would find expression in ND's positions for Europe's future and the demands that it would have in Brussels going forward, "giving us impetus so that Greece in 2027 will reap the fruits that it deserves."

"Behind the title and the names on our election ticket is also my own name, so that I can make demands and go to the European Council stronger. I need this strength the following day at the European Council," he added, saying the aim was to "stay in Europe, with Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president for another five years," while announcing that the names of the ND candidate MEPs will be unveiled next Monday.