Under the presidency of Prime Minister and New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the party’s Parliamentary Group convenes today at noon, with the primary agenda being the election of a new secretary. This process comes just weeks after the sudden loss of Apostolos Vesyropoulos, creating a void that needs to be filled during a critical political period. Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s proposal for the position is Larissa MP Maximos Charakopoulos – a choice that, according to sources, was initially suggested by Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis. The Prime Minister’s acceptance of this proposal is interpreted as a move to balance internal party forces, aimed at absorbing dissatisfaction expressed by members of the party’s right wing. Charakopoulos, a figure with ties to the “popular Right” and close relationships with the Karamanlis camp, is broadly considered a symbolic and substantial choice with unifying characteristics.
Read: New Democracy Parliamentary Group meets Friday for new Secretary election
Reorganization through regional tours and social agenda
On a political strategy level, the government emphasizes strengthening its presence throughout the country. Government officials are preparing for a series of visits and regional tours, aimed at communicating recent announcements about tax cuts and support measures for vulnerable social groups. The Prime Minister himself has already begun contacts with citizens and local stakeholders, attempting to gauge acceptance of the interventions he presented at the Thessaloniki International Fair. From Lemnos, where he was yesterday, Kyriakos Mitsotakis outlined the dual framework for the next phase: on one hand, implementing tax reform, and on the other, adapting government policies to each region’s needs – even the most remote ones. “There are no first and second-class citizens,” he noted characteristically, outlining a more decentralized planning approach. The Maximos Mansion estimates that the first visits –to Western Athens and Lemnos– had a positive impact, strengthening the government’s image among social groups that had shown signs of distancing themselves. The next stops include Arcadia, Laconia, Achaea, Ilia, South Aegean, as well as targeted interventions in Rodopi, Pella, and Serres.
Prime Minister heads to New York – Meeting with Erdogan scheduled
The Prime Minister’s schedule includes international commitments. Starting Monday, Kyriakos Mitsotakis departs for New York, where he will participate in the 80th High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly. His presence there takes on particular significance amid a fluid international situation, while his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, is expected to be in the spotlight.
Blue rebellions and internal cracks
At the same time, however, internal party tensions are intensifying, with disagreements manifesting publicly and within Parliament. Thessaloniki MP Stratos Simopoulos stated that he does not intend to vote for the legislative regulation concerning changes to the administrative council of the Thessaloniki International Fair. His “no” vote adds to a series of interventions and demands from New Democracy MPs. Eight MPs have already requested reconsideration of the issue regarding widows’ pensions from the former Agricultural Insurance Organization, while Cyclades MP Markos Kafouros –together with Dodecanese MP Manos Konsola– brought back the demand for restoring reduced VAT rates on Aegean islands. The cumulative pressure from internal disagreements and the need to strengthen party unity appears to be guiding the Prime Minister’s moves in the coming period.
