In a “difficult” region for New Democracy, the ruling party continues its journey toward the congress, which will take place from May 15 to 17 in Athens. Thessaly presents a triple political challenge for ND, as it is the area that was severely hit by the major storm Daniel two and a half years ago, and the wounds to the road and rail network, crops, and other infrastructure have not yet healed. It was also the region that found itself at the center of the farmers’ mobilizations that began at the end of last November and lasted until mid-January, while the shadow of the deadly train accident at Tempe looms large, as in ten days the first session of the Three-Member Court of Appeals for Crimes in Larissa begins for the main trial related to the tragedy. Regarding agricultural issues, it doesn’t go unnoticed that former prime minister Kostas Karamanlis has intensified his interventions with criticisms of both government and European policy in the primary sector.
Economy, development and primary sector are the key topics on the agenda of ND’s pre-congress dialogue
Within this environment, ND proceeds – with the presence of Kyriakos Mitsotakis – to its third pre-congress meeting this Saturday in Larissa, at a central hotel in the city. This follows previous meetings in Ioannina with the theme “Social state for all – New prospects and opportunities” and in Alexandroupoli with the theme “Secure Greece”. The economy, development, and the primary sector are the main thematic subjects of the pre-congress dialogue in Larissa, with the relevant ministers of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Development Takis Theodorikakos, Rural Development and Food Kostas Tsiara, and Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis discussing and taking positions in the respective panel.
This will be followed by a discussion between the prime minister and a farmer, an employee at a startup company, and a local businessman, regarding the implementation of these government policies, viewed now through the lens of the war in the Middle East and its impact on trade and the economy, as well as the measures the government has just announced. Mr. Mitsotakis may also visit the Fighter Wing in Larissa before returning to Athens, one of our Air Force’s main fighter wings, in which the US has invested significantly in recent years.
Sources suggest that the ruling party wavered between Volos and Larissa as the venue for the third pre-congress meeting and ultimately chose institutionally the capital of the Thessaly Region, where Mayor Thanasis Mamakos made a surprise in the last local elections and was elected from the first round with a record percentage above 50%. In terms of national election polls, mainly due to the three issues mentioned above, as well as revelations about OPEKEPE, ND is moving significantly lower than the 2023 ballot, when it had reached 40% in Larissa and exceeded it in Trikala, Karditsa, and Magnesia. Except for Karditsa, in the other three electoral regions of Thessaly, in the last European elections ballot, ND’s percentage had fallen below 30%. Starting from Saturday’s pre-congress meeting, the Maximos Mansion and Pireos Street expect a gradual recovery of forces in the Thessalian plain and political recovery in all four electoral regions, with a horizon not so much focused on the May congress, but rather on next spring’s elections.
