Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a message of unity and electoral readiness from Rhodes, placing the country’s economy, security, and stability at the center of the political debate as the nation heads toward the 2027 elections.
Speaking at a rally in Rhodes, the Prime Minister and president of New Democracy outlined the context in which the next election will take place, contrasting the government’s work with the picture he painted of the opposition parties.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated that the national elections will take place in the spring of 2027, reaffirming his commitment to serving out the full four-year term. At the same time, he set as a political goal a new electoral victory for New Democracy and the formation of a self-sufficient government, arguing that this is the only way to continue the course charted in recent years.
The economy took center stage in his speech. The prime minister recalled that raising wages and boosting disposable income were key commitments of the government in 2023, arguing that substantial steps have been taken in this direction. He made special mention of the tourism sector and Rhodes, noting that the collective agreements that have been reached lead to higher wages for workers.
At the same time, he acknowledged that the high cost of living and inflation in recent years have eroded a significant portion of the benefits resulting from wage increases, arguing, however, that the country’s fiscal trajectory allows the government to continue measures supporting households and retirees.
He placed particular emphasis on reducing public debt, presenting it as one of the government’s most important policy choices of the period. As he noted, the country’s ability to gradually repay the burdens accumulated in previous years is an obligation to future generations and simultaneously creates the necessary fiscal space to fund policies in critical sectors.
In the same vein, he emphasized that the country’s fiscal stability will not be jeopardized for the sake of electoral expediency, sending a message of continuity in economic policy as the country enters the final stretch leading up to the next elections.
The second focus of the speech was national security. Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that the primary responsibility of any government is to safeguard national sovereignty and protect the country’s sovereign rights, arguing that Greece currently possesses the strongest and most reliable Armed Forces in its modern history.
In this context, he referred to the operational readiness of the Greek Armed Forces, noting that when the need arose, the country dispatched two frigates and four aircraft to Cyprus within a few hours to demonstrate its support for Nicosia in practice. At the same time, he assured that defense investments would continue in the coming years, as they are, as he put it, a necessity for a country located in a region of intense geopolitical upheaval.
He also made special mention of migration, arguing that Greece has succeeded in making the protection of external borders a central European policy. The prime minister argued that the country was at the forefront of the relevant debate within the European Union and that Athens’ positions have now been largely adopted by Brussels.
Finally, the Prime Minister launched an attack on the opposition, arguing that the parties opposing New Democracy do not present a comprehensive governance proposal and limit themselves to attempts to politically undermine the government. He contrasted the government’s work with what he described as the absence of an alternative plan for the country, insisting that New Democracy is the only political force with a concrete plan for the challenges of the coming decade.
In this context, he referred to the changes brought about by artificial intelligence, the transformation of the labor market, the need to modernize the state, and the adaptation of the education system to the demands of the professions of the future, presenting these issues as key priorities for the coming period.
Concluding his speech, he called on New Democracy officials, members, and supporters to convey the government’s message to society and to highlight the work that, as he said, has been accomplished from 2019 to the present. He also presented the upcoming election as a choice between continuing on a path of stability and returning to political experimentation, arguing that the country needs a strong government and a clear mandate to address the challenges of the coming years.
SOURCE: APE