With messages to the electorate, pledges of support for citizens facing the energy cost crisis, and positive news for the fishing industry, Kyriakos Mitsotakis made another trip to northern Greece as part of an intensified government presence in the regions, with a particular focus on Macedonia. The Prime Minister visited Chalkidiki yesterday, where he called on citizens to renew the “Agreement of Truth” with New Democracy. Speaking at a public rally in the central square of Arnaia, he expressed confidence that in the 2027 elections, Greek voters will once again place their trust in the center-right party, which he described as a force of stability in a turbulent world. “We are calling for a majority government capable of making swift decisions with full accountability,” Mitsotakis stated, reiterating his declared goal ahead of the upcoming election, while also sending the message that “stability does not mean stagnation — it means we can build on reforms.”
Greece as a force for stability and progress
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ regional tour came in the wake of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Athens, with the Prime Minister noting that the contacts made during that visit confirmed the depth of the strategic relationship between the United States and Greece. He also highlighted that the discussions reaffirmed Greece’s role as a force for stability and progress in a troubled region. “The picture we see today is an optimistic one — it is the image of a Greece that looks to the future with confidence,” Mitsotakis said, as he officially inaugurated the Eldorado Gold and Hellas Gold mining operation at Skouries in Chalkidiki. “What has happened and is happening here in Skouries can be a precursor to other such investments, especially in northern Greece, which possesses unique, untapped mineral wealth. For many years, we believed that this untapped potential should be left in the ground… We held the same view regarding the possibility of finding natural gas. I should remind you that this government is launching the first natural gas extraction in 40 years,” Mitsotakis added. The Prime Minister also focused on the extensive negotiations that took place with the company under the current government, aimed at ensuring that mining activity in the area would have the smallest possible environmental footprint and demonstrating that the site can be satisfactorily restored following the conclusion of mining operations.
Dual intervention on heating oil prices and subsidies
At his meeting with citizens, Kyriakos Mitsotakis also announced two-level support for heating oil: an intervention at the pump price and an increase in the heating allowance, designed to benefit those who need it most — namely, residents of northern Greece. However, he made clear that the government would not resort to pre-election handouts that could jeopardize fiscal stability. “I could give more, but that would mean shooting ourselves in the foot. We learn from our mistakes. Only those who do nothing make no mistakes,” Mitsotakis stressed. It is worth noting that a new support measure for consumers purchasing heating oil has been included in an amendment submitted to Parliament. The subsidy covers quantities of heating oil to be distributed between October 15 and October 31, with the exact level of support expected to be determined the following week by joint ministerial decision. Also expected next week is the announcement of a dual support package: a subsidy on the price of heating oil alongside an increase in the allowance targeting vulnerable households. Specifically, on October 14, the government’s final decisions on the heating allowance are expected to be announced, based on the increase and expanded income criteria previously flagged by the Prime Minister, and likely including an extension of the allowance to cover natural gas and electricity.
In Arnaia, Kyriakos Mitsotakis also met with local fishermen and pledged that the government would exhaust “every possible avenue to provide you with meaningful financial support, so that you can continue doing what you do on competitive terms.” He further emphasized that he would personally attend to the issues facing the sector, with relevant announcements expected in the coming days. Following the Prime Minister’s dialogue with the fishermen, Minister of Rural Development Makis Voridis met with industry representatives to hear and record their requests. Mitsotakis made a point of mentioning Minister Schinas in his speech, noting that he spent the first six years of his life in Arnaia, holds honorary citizenship of the Municipality of Aristotle, and would therefore take a personal interest in addressing local issues.
