Ruling New Democracy party’s 50th “birthday” street celebration on Friday in front of the neo-classical building on Rigillis Street that was its headquarters for decades also served as the venue for PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis to glowingly narrate the conservative party’s half century of existence, but to also promise a third consecutive term.
Mitsotakis’ address featured extensive references to party founder and late statesman Constantine Karamanlis, whom he described as an internationally known leader, a political realist and an anti-populist – heaping praise even as Karamanlis’ namesake and nephew, former PM Costas Karamanlis, was absent from the much-hyped event.
The prime minister underlined that during his term in office, New Democracy has prevailed in all election battles, and even received a higher percentage of the vote in July 2023, as the incumbent party, than it did in 2019. As such, he said the party deserves as “third consecutive” term in office, although the current government has three whole years before it. In relation to the party’s ideological direction, Mitsotakis stressed that “it neither looks left, nor right, but straight ahead.”
The latter was an indirect allusion to another notable absence during the night, that of former prime minister Antonis Samaras, who has previously signaled his annoyance with certain government policies (same sex marriage legalization, for instance) over the recent period.
In terms of future thresholds, Mitsotakis said goals for 2027 ‘road map’ include a 3% yearly rate growth rate, a 2% annual inflation rate, unemployment below 8% and an average monthly wage of 1,500 euros – 950 euros being the target for the minimum monthly wage.
Appearance on Live News
In an earlier television appearance on Mega Channel’s afternoon current affairs program Live News, Mitsotakis reiterated that center-right ND remains the largest and most stable political force in Greece. “We are the only party that has endured and grown stronger, because we stayed true to our founder’s values and adapted to changing times.”
Mitsotakis recalled the words of ND founder Constantine Karamanlis, who stated he was not right-wing, centrist or left-wing, but a progressive.
When asked about ND’s achievements, Mitsotakis cited party’s role in Greece’s smooth transition to democracy after 1974, the legalization of the Communist Party (KKE), drafting a very progressive constitution and the unwavering decision to pursue membership in the European family. He stressed that ND has consistently upheld these principles, even when faced with a political cost.
