New Democracy has embarked on a marathon of approximately 300 days, as according to public commitments by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, this is roughly the time remaining until the next national elections. “Elections will be held in spring 2027, on schedule. We are experienced marathon runners. I can already see some others getting out of breath, but that’s their problem. We have resilience and endurance,” the prime minister said from Rhodes where he toured over the weekend, highlighting what he considers New Democracy’s comparative advantage over other political parties.
Mitsotakis’ third term plan: The path to elections and New Democracy’s Agenda 2030
The new secretary of the ruling party, Konstantinos Kyranakis, is organizing tours across Greece, seeking to rally the party base and will attempt to promote new officials, reactivate former ones, and utilize social media to the best possible degree. “My goal is to convey optimism and eliminate defeatism. If we succeed at the level of officials throughout Greece, we will also succeed at the societal level. New Democracy has achieved much, but people will trust us again only if they are convinced we will do even more for Greece in 2030,” the new secretary of New Democracy’s Political Committee emphasized in a statement to the newspaper “Parapolitika.” Staffing the candidate lists is also a priority, with new related announcements expected in the coming period.
In his speech at the recent Political Committee meeting, the prime minister outlined that “citizens’ pockets and household budgets” will be at the top of New Democracy’s pre-election agenda, while “a new contract of responsibility with society” will be among the central slogans. He announced that the program with which he will seek a third term will be called “Agenda 2030” and for its drafting, a special committee will be established, coordinated by Deputy Prime Minister and party Vice President Kostis Hatzidakis.
Mr. Hatzidakis has already described (in an interview with mononews) the three basic priorities of the government program: First, a more productive economy, so that working the same amount, we produce more, utilizing modern technological tools – and simultaneously a more just distribution of income, with more effective support for families due to demographics, and for the most vulnerable citizens.
Second, a more modern state with more transparent operation, citing as an example the revision of Article 86 of the Constitution, “so that Parliament doesn’t become a judge for ministers, but justice does,” as he said, as well as the revision of Article 90 with the change in the way judicial leadership is selected, “so that there are even more guarantees of impartiality.” Third, a robust international presence for the country, “with even stronger Armed Forces and an upgraded role as a hub for energy, transport, data and technology.”
Yesterday New Democracy announced the eight elected members who, together with the ex officio members, comprise the party’s new Executive Secretariat. The elected members are MPs Maria-Alexandra Kefala, Thanasis Papathanasis, Stavros Papasotiriou and Asimina Skondra, and the extra-parliamentary members Panagiotis Palpanas, Christina Patrikakου, Giorgos Tsakoumis and Konstantinos Tsiagkliotis.
It is recalled that the ex officio members of the Executive Secretariat are: New Democracy President Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Vice Presidents Kostis Hatzidakis and Adonis Georgiadis, Political Committee Secretary Konstantinos Kyranakis, Parliamentary Group General Secretary Maximos Charakopoulos, General Director Giannis Smyrlis, parliamentary spokesperson Dimitris Kairidis and ONNED President Orfeas Georgiou.
The leadership team from Piraeus remains unchanged – aided by the personal relationship the new secretary has with its officials. Mr. Smyrlis had helped him about fifteen years ago in the ranks of the European People’s Party youth (as a former vice president himself), he had collaborated with organizational secretary Stelios Kontadakis in Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ 2015 campaign for the New Democracy presidency, while he has worked with press spokesperson Alexandra Sdoukou at the governmental level and developed a good personal relationship in recent years. The launch of this roadmap began recently from Thessaloniki, while Western Greece (Agrinio) and Epirus (Ioannina) are scheduled for June.
