The government is entering a phase of dynamic counteroffensive, seeking to change the political climate and offset the damage caused by scandals and inflationary pressure, with a spearhead package of measures and investments to be presented at the upcoming Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF). Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as reported in the newspaper “Apogevmatini,” chooses to respond to fierce opposition rhetoric not with confrontations, but with concrete work, reforms and targeted interventions aimed at strengthening citizens’ daily lives and regaining the electorate’s trust.
The OPEKEPE case –which caused political upheaval– is being leveraged by the opposition as a pressure tool, in an attempt to undermine the government’s reform narrative. However, the prime minister does not hesitate to characterize those who illegally benefited from agricultural subsidies as “fraudsters” and “thieves,” thus signaling his intention to end clientelist practices and pathologies within the state mechanism. Recovering the misappropriated funds emerges as a key government priority.
Mitsotakis responds to opposition with measures and projects ahead of TIF
The Maximos Mansion strategy is adapting, as inflation and trust deficit create cracks, especially among the moderate centrist audience. According to a recent GPO poll, the pool of undecided voters increases from 12.1% to 17.7% within a month – a phenomenon interpreted as a result of political disengagement and the need for clear programmatic discourse.
To reverse the adverse climate, the government team is developing a multi-level package of measures worth over €1.5 billion. This package will include tax cuts, support for the middle class and interventions in the housing sector, directly responding to the needs of households tested by inflation and rising cost of living.
Preparations for TIF are reaching their peak, with the presentation of measures expected by Thursday, August 28, during the prime minister’s traditional meeting with productive organizations of Northern Greece. This year’s Fair is considered by the government team as the most critical of the current term, with the momentum of announcements estimated to decisively influence next year’s political developments.
Meanwhile, announcements continue for critical infrastructure projects aimed at improving citizens’ daily lives. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, from the inauguration of the Patras-Pyrgos road axis, referred to a series of flagship projects that are under development or in completion phase, such as:
- The extension of Thessaloniki metro to Kalamaria
- Completion of the northern section of E-65
- Finalization of Amvrakias Road
- The Flyover project in Thessaloniki
- The Northern Road Axis of Crete (BOAK)
Implementation of 25 flagship reforms
At the core of the government agenda is accelerating reforms that have direct social impact. The prime minister has committed to implementing 25 flagship reforms by year-end, in a race against time to reconnect with disappointed voters and upgrade state functionality.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis calls for sobriety and understanding, emphasizing the need for political responsibility and national unity during a period of intense polarization. In this context, the government attempts to counter with a positive narrative of progress and prosperity against an opposition that –as it maintains– invests in toxicity and scandal-mongering, unable to formulate a clear programmatic proposal.
