Kostis Hatzidakis sent a clear message of victory for the upcoming elections during his speech at a gathering of ONNED members from all generations, held at the Glasshouse venue in Goudi, Athens, marking the youth organization’s 52nd anniversary. “Take the next electoral battle on your shoulders,” the Deputy Prime Minister told a packed hall on Friday afternoon (16/10). The event drew current and former ONNED and DAP-NDFK members, as well as New Democracy party officials, who responded to Hatzidakis’ online call to attend.
Hatzidakis at ONNED’s 52nd anniversary: “Take the next electoral battle on your shoulders”
“The New Democracy party has always been open since its founding and will remain open. We want to be a broad, inclusive, and powerful party. But we — the ONNED members and New Democracy’s cadres — have always been and will always remain its core. They have supported the party and will continue to do so. That is why I say to you: take the next electoral battle on your shoulders,” Hatzidakis said emphatically.
He went on to link New Democracy’s open and inclusive character to the enduring contribution of its people over the years. He highlighted the role of cadres who came through ONNED and DAP-NDFK, urging them to actively participate in the party’s drive ahead of the 2027 elections.
Turning to the next national vote, he predicted it would take place in the coming spring and stressed that Greece’s future course would be decided at the ballot box. He framed the stakes as whether the achievements of the past seven years would be preserved and whether the country would continue on its path toward a modern, European Greece by 2030 — one that lives up to the expectations of the younger generation.
ONNED: “A matter of the heart”
Hatzidakis also acknowledged that some party members feel their contributions have not been recognized as they deserve. “I know there may be grievances and complaints — comrades who feel the party has not always treated them fairly or honored them in proportion to their worth,” he said. He added: “In many cases, those grievances are valid, and we are all here to look at them and correct mistakes where they have been made.”
Speaking about the significance of their shared journey, Hatzidakis described ONNED as “a matter of the heart.” He reflected on the memories, dreams, and ideological battles that connect generations of the organization and thanked all those who attended the gathering — from its founding members to today’s ONNED youth.
Having served as secretary of DAP-NDFK and president of ONNED himself, Hatzidakis shared personal anecdotes from his time in the student organization. He recalled that when he first entered university, DAP held 18% of the student vote, and by the time he graduated it had climbed to 40%. Linking effectiveness with conviction, he declared: “I believe very strongly in results-driven politics. But being effective is not enough. You must have a flame burning in your heart.”
Closing his speech, he expressed confidence that the experience of veteran members combined with the energy of the new generation could prove decisive in the party’s next campaign push: “Together, we will win.”
Kostis Hatzidakis’ post marking 52 years since ONNED’s founding
“Thousands of ONNED and DAP members from all generations came together again! A heartfelt thank you to all the old and new friends who packed the Glasshouse at my event celebrating 52 years of ONNED!
For all of us, ONNED is a matter of the heart. It is bound up with our memories, our youth, our dreams. But it is also bound up with a series of ideological battles and great victories that shifted the balance of power among young people against the ideological dominance of the Left.
The battle of the coming spring is a battle for Greece, and that is why New Democracy must be backed en masse. Our party has always been open since its founding and will remain open. We want to be a broad, inclusive, and powerful party. But we — the ONNED members and New Democracy’s cadres — have always been and will always be its core. We supported the party and we will continue to do so. That is why we must take the next electoral battle on our shoulders!
We have won so many battles — we will win this one too! We owe it to our country to make it happen!”
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