Prime Minister and New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered a speech at the 14th regular convention of ONNED (New Democracy Youth) at the Olympic Facilities in Paianias on Friday, October 3, marking the 51st anniversary of the party’s founding. The New Democracy president was gracious in his remarks toward the younger generation and ONNED specifically. He noted that the convention dates were not chosen randomly, as New Democracy would celebrate its 51st anniversary on Saturday, October 4. He praised the party’s youth wing for its 90,000 members while speaking extensively about New Democracy’s achievements and future plans.
“I am proud of all of you, I am proud of the great center-right movement that celebrates its 51st anniversary tomorrow,” he said toward the end of his speech to warm applause.
He also remembered his father, who used to tell the youth, “I was with you and I will leave optimistic,” and adapted it: “I am with you and I will leave many times more optimistic.”
He encouraged the younger generation: “Challenge us, even more challenging. Make us rise to meet your expectations. I call on you to transform the next 18 months into an exciting journey. To make our voice a powerful roar of truth and peace. Speaking with arguments, listening to complaints too. Making the flame of our torch a guide on the road to a strong Greece, to a Greece we deserve,” he said in closing.
**”We will rock you”**
New Democracy Youth officials preceded Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s speech and assured they would support him in the upcoming elections. Mitsotakis entered to Queen’s “We will rock you” as the lights dimmed to create a more dramatic atmosphere.
The New Democracy leader waited five minutes before taking the stage to speak. ONNED played a video showcasing Mitsotakis’s presence at youth events and his support for the party’s youth wing, including excerpts from previous speeches. The same happened with ONNED president Orpheas Georgiou.
After his speech, a video dedicated to New Democracy’s 51 years was played.
**Kyriakos Mitsotakis: “Only New Democracy promises security and hope”**
Mitsotakis took the stage smiling amid a standing ovation. He greeted everyone and thanked them for the wonderful reception.
He began his speech: “Thank you for this truly impressive reception, your enthusiasm is highly contagious, as I feel the momentum your applause and voices give me. Let’s continue the path we’ve charted together these six years, on the road of development. This is the path leading to an upgraded Greece. To a Greece that will keep its young people and won’t force them to leave abroad.”
Mitsotakis said neither he nor ONNED president Orpheas Georgiou chose this day randomly. “I was 6 years old when New Democracy was founded, which changed this country’s life.” “To serve the nation and its interests, as written in the first proclamation,” he continued. “On October 17 came ONNED’s founding. It became the organization launching toward a proud Greece.”
“Only New Democracy promises we’ll move forward, away from adventures, until 2030, with security and hope. With ONNED leading the youth and DAP in universities,” he commented loudly.
“We fight in every social field, with dynamic officials, with the wind of youth. Don’t let the miseries of the moment carry us away. Know that just as we won the new generation’s trust in 2023, we’ll win it again in 2027,” he said about upcoming elections.
“Whatever you choose to do, I have one request: Never forget the value of engaging with public affairs. Everyone must shape this country’s image without succumbing to cynicism and maintaining faith in democracy. This isn’t just friendly advice, it’s also a warning for the times we’re living through,” was his advice to the younger generation.
**”You will show us the ways”**
Mitsotakis asked the youth to convince both him and older generations. He asked them to pose challenges and advocate for the means they love. “For example, the kids who asked me to engage with TikTok – I did it with very positive results. The goal is to find the next medium,” he said.
The New Democracy leader compared today’s youth with his own generation, commenting that back then there was abundant optimism: “I understand this isn’t the new generation,” he noted, saying “the world is changing, but we shouldn’t fear this change. Greece is also changing, but be sure it’s changing for the better.”
Mitsotakis also greeted Crete’s presence and continued: “We’re developing, despite populism, at a rate more than double the rest of Europe. I assure you my satisfaction when abroad is that the country is no longer treated as Europe’s black sheep.”
**”Average salary up to €1,500 by 2027″**
Mitsotakis emphasized that salary increases are a badge of honor for New Democracy, saying “we’ve brought it to €1,400 now and will take it to €1,500 by 2027.” He said farmers’ and uniformed personnel’s income would increase significantly through new pay scales.
“Any young person under 25 with income up to €20,000 will pay no tax at all, zero tax. From 25 to 30, they’ll be charged 9% instead of 22%,” announced the New Democracy leader regarding new tax relief measures, giving numerous examples with amounts for tax exemptions.
He also spoke of “additional exemptions for families, from one to three salaries for third children.”
**”Look at the kids serving you”**
The prime minister mentioned a dialogue with leftist officials. When they asked, “Really, which young people under 25 work?,” he replied, “Look at the kids serving you.”
Mitsotakis repeated measures announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair, for small property owners, pensioners, and the 1,720 settlements exempted from property tax.
He said the periphery must be strengthened, but “not with emergency measures. We used those during Covid. Now we want to strengthen it through measures we want to remain permanent.”
Speaking to ONNED, he declared “you are our movement’s nursery,” while earlier citing examples of party youth members now playing important roles in New Democracy.
“Through the ‘Marietta Giannakou’ program we’ve renovated 430 schools. And with €300 million sponsorship from banks, we’ll renovate 2,500 schools,” he said characteristically, while praising work on Greek universities. “Occupations transformed into libraries,” he commented, saying “this is the first school year starting without active occupation in any university.” He also emphasized that “this year all four first private universities in our country will operate.”
“My 2019 commitment was to reduce unemployment, which was 18%. Now it’s 8%. The basic wage for first-time workers rose from €880 to €950. And we’ll be consistent with our commitment to reach €950 by 2027,” he said about employment.
He also emphasized that the digital employee card protects workers by “recording their overtime.” He spoke about protecting remote workers and platform workers.
**”We’ll return one month’s rent”**
“This November we’ll return one month’s rent to those not living in their own homes. We’re renovating student dormitories in Athens, building five in the periphery. All our citizens interested in first-home purchases had access to low-interest housing loans,” Mitsotakis continued.
The New Democracy leader focused on the younger generation’s “free time.” “We’re addressing the era’s challenges, mental health. With courage and without complexes and prejudices, the new generation speaks openly about these issues. We open these issues with courage, while other sides remain silent.”
“Tell me if today’s Greek stadiums have any relation to what held them back two years ago,” he commented on changes in football fan culture, while reminding about 24-hour public transport on Saturdays.
“We legitimized the voucher system, €150 for young ages. Many mocked it, but thousands of young people rushed,” he added. He spoke with great respect about the new generation, emphasizing that “every parent, not excluding myself, has a duty to reconnect with their children.” “Greek children appear with new principles. Without complexes. You give us the opportunity to reconsider some views we considered given,” he continued.
**”You don’t need miserable political acrobatics”**
Addressing the new generation, Mitsotakis commented they paid the cost of decisions made a decade ago. “New Democracy looks reality straight in the eye and has the courage to look toward tomorrow. We have a great opponent: the country’s problems and our own weaknesses, which we must correct. We’ve done much, but much more needs to be done. We face forces that often catastrophize without having anything positive to suggest. In Greece of 2025, you, the new generation, don’t need miserable political acrobatics. Your generation paid dearly for cheap demagogy. You’re young, but not so young that you don’t remember what happened 10 years ago. Never forget this, never allow Greece to suffer such humiliation again. Resist the wave of populism. It must be repelled, no matter how much extreme political forces and centers controlling media outlets promote it.”
