Kyriakos Mitsotakis's proposal to appoint Konstantinos Kyranakis as Secretary of the New Democracy Policy Committee, at this political juncture, is not merely a routine internal party handover. It is a choice with a clear political and ideological imprint and a clear message regarding the party apparatus’s priorities in the coming period. It is a strategic choice aimed at strengthening the party politically, organizationally, and in terms of communication as we head toward the national elections.
Konstantinos Kyranakis is a leader who comes from the very heart of the party and understands, better than most, the authentic DNA of the party’s voters. From DAP-NDFK and ONNED to the Youth of the European People’s Party, of which he was twice elected president, Kyranakis is a figure with a proven track record and internal party legitimacy, having climbed the party hierarchy step by step, as well as strong international networks and respect within the European center-right.
At the Maximos Mansion, they believe that Kyranakis has been tested in difficult situations and does not shy away from political risk. On the contrary, he has proven that he can handle high-pressure assignments. At the same time, he has a strong presence in public discourse and “front-line” experience in political debate. As deputy press secretary for New Democracy in 2019, he was at the center of the confrontation with the then-Tsipras-Kammenos government, building resilience under intense pressure.
Furthermore, beyond the above, he is now ranked among the government officials associated with significant political victories and reforms of the government. “He is one of those people who doesn’t shy away from difficult challenges, always striving to deliver results,” say those familiar with party affairs.
More specifically, atthe Ministry of Digital Governance, he was instrumental in completing the Land Registry after 30 years of delays. Accelerating the digitization of procedures, reducing bureaucracy, and tackling entrenched corruption and inefficiencies paint a picture of significant reform.
Subsequently, as Deputy Minister of Transportation, he took on one of the most difficult and politically “hot-button” issues: amid massive protests over the Tempi disaster, with an urgent demand to upgrade railway safety. His tenure there concludes successfully, as five additional safety measures are implemented on the railways, infrastructure projects are delivered on time, and the agreement to procure brand-new trains is carried out.
According to reports, however, it is also significant that Kyranakis is a close associate of Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself. Few people know that he was part of the current Prime Minister’s team during the campaign for the New Democracy presidency in 2015–2016. This is, therefore, a personal relationship that goes back many years, and as Secretary, Konstantinos Kyranakis is expected to give his all—with all his strength and personal zeal—to the fight for a majority government and the Prime Minister’s re-election, with the central goal being for all party officials to “give it their all.”
The choice of Kyranakis is yet another concrete move by the Prime Minister to support the party’s generation of 30-somethings, who combine party experience, experience, and track records—just as the selection of Pavlos Marinakis in 2021 for the position of party secretary demonstrated, as well as that of many other government officials and candidates on the New Democracy ballots.
The stakes for the coming days
Those who read between the lines of this choice insist: the issue is not simply the management of the party apparatus. That is a given.
The real challenge is something else.
The revitalization of the party base and the re-engagement of citizens who remain emotionally close to New Democracy but have distanced themselves from active participation. This is an audience that either remains silent or watches from a distance.
In this regard, Kyranakis has a crucial advantage: he can speak to a party audience while also reaching out to groups that traditional parties struggle to engage.
Konstantinos Kyranakis speaks the language of the New Democrat and, at the same time, of young people.
The crucial question is not merely organizational readiness ahead of the elections. It is whether New Democracy can present itself as more outward-looking, more modern, and more appealing to citizens who today either remain politically inactive or are looking in other directions.
According to government sources, on Wednesday, June 10, at 4:00 p.m., the with the sole item on the agenda being the election of a new Secretary of the Political Committee.