Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the New Democracy Parliamentary Group on Friday, emphasizing unity as the party navigates a turbulent period marked by outrage over the Tempi train tragedy and political criticism of the government handling of it.
“It is no secret that the National Assembly is meeting today at the conclusion of a difficult period,” Mitsotakis said, pointing to the aftermath of the national budget vote and the fallout from the Tempi crash. He accused the Opposition and “certain media outlets” of exploiting public grief: “Some attempted to exploit human suffering for temporary political gains… The time for justice is approaching and we will all learn the truth.”
Today’s New Democracy’s Committee Meeting follows a recent cabinet reshuffle, meant to be a fresh start for the government, that didn’t quite go as planned. Any positive impact was quickly overshadowed by the firing of a deputy minister. Then the announcement of pay raises for the military sparked a public outcry, further destabilizing the situation.
Reaffirming his commitment to serve a full term, Mitsotakis declared: “Elections will be held at the end of the four-year term and they will be victorious with me at the forefront of the battle. So that ND can be a government again and in the same number and why not more, as long as we ourselves believe it.”
Calling for discipline within the party, he warned against internal division: “We are bound by our programme and our values; personal aspirations come first, our principles first. It is one thing to have a different viewpoint, which is imperative, and another to be pathologically introverted, which at this juncture cannot be accepted.” He stated “Our party needs a united voice, a responsible personal attitude and party consistency,” and reminded MPs that “no minister should see a ministry as a personal kingdom… no MP can consider a cross of preference stronger than the symbol of the party that elected him.”
Apostolos Vesyropoulos was elected Secretary of the New Democracy Parliamentary Group, while Athanasios Plevris, Notis Mitarakis, and Makarios Lazaridis were appointed as Parliamentary Representatives.
