Mitsotakis: The 5 priorities for a strong Greece

2023-04-20 18:54:05

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke at the meeting of the N.D.’s Political Committee, at the party’s headquarters, in Moschato, a few days before the official start of the pre-election period, stressing that “an independent N.D. means independent Greece” and that “victorious New Democracy means victorious Greece”.

At the same time, the prime minister took stock of the government’s work, severely criticized SYRIZA and set the “5 priorities” for a strong Greece.

At the beginning of his speech, the prime minister thanked those present: “It is our last meeting before the elections, before the crucial confrontation that will give to the ND. the second strong mandate for a new fruitful government term, thus charting the course of the country for the years to come.”

“Stability, Consistency, Continuity”
“In your faces I see the certainty of victory, but I also see the certainty that this campaign will ultimately bring self-reliance. Self-reliant New Democracy for a self-reliant, strong Greece” added the prime minister.

“You are the first to feel the need for Greece to stay on the path of security and progress,” continued Mr. Mitsotakis, addressing the N.D. – three words that complement three great conquests. Since 2019, we have managed to recover the lost ground of the four-year SYRIZA. We managed to overcome great trials. From the immigration issue in the Evros and the pandemic, to the threats in the Aegean and everything that the war brought to Ukraine, implementing what we promised to the Greek citizens in 2019,” noted Mr. Mitsotakis.

“It is true that no government fought on so many and on so many different fronts. And no one has shown such an important work in such a short period of time, but also in such an unfavorable environment”, added the prime minister, giving an account of the government’s parliamentary work.

Mr. Mitsotakis, referring to the ND ballots. he talked about renewed ballots and pointed out that “New Democracy really has a great executive depth” and that he has as a compass in the utilization of the executives the “meritocracy and only the meritocracy”.

Regarding the account of the government’s work, Kyriakos Mitsotakis focused on the “need to highlight the consistency of the words and works of this government” and emphasized emphatically that “we reduced taxes by 50 and by 4 units the insurance contributions”, while he also pointed out the abolition of the solidarity contribution as well as “the total burden relief of 7 billion euros – permanent exemptions, when the third Tsipras-Varoufakis Memorandum cost us almost 100 billion.”

“We were able to reduce taxes and bring much greater growth and ensure fiscal stability (…) and it is exactly this growth dividend that we can return to Greek society. This is why we were able to give pensioners raises of the order of 8% for the first time after 12 years. And the higher the growth will be, the higher the future increases will be”, the prime minister added and then criticized Mr. Katrougalos saying that “those who are wronged by the personal difference of Mr. Katrougalos have recently been strengthened and I have pledged to continue to support the pensioners, until the personal difference is completely extinguished”.

“Recovery of investment grade by the end of 2023”
“We have created almost 300,000 new jobs,” pointed out the prime minister, who went on to compare the figures to Spain, where he said unemployment remained at the same levels during socialist rule, while he pledged to recover investment. tier in 2023, “if the N.D. is a stable and strong government after the elections.”

He then called for a comparison of “this report with what happened in the period 2015-2019”. And he noted: “closed banks, queues outside ATMs, the country on the brink, a third unnecessary memorandum, negative deposits, while today the forecasts for growth are being revised upwards”.

“The country of unripe vines is now a thing of the past”
Regarding the immigration issue, he argued: “Four years ago, some people told us that the sea has no borders and that on land they should remain open (…) This country of unripe vines is now a thing of the past. Illegal streams are prevented. We are breaking, dissolving, crushing the wretched circuits of traffickers”, the prime minister stated emphatically and made it clear that “the fence of the Evros is expanding”, characterizing the Papadimoulis amendment as “despicable”.

He then listed the policies to strengthen the armed forces, while focusing on the increases in uniforms: “Equipment, no matter how good, is of no use if it is not accompanied by a cadre that is well-trained, but above all spirited,” he said.

“5 priorities for a strong Greece”
The prime minister in the ND PE referred in detail to the infrastructure projects carried out throughout the country.

He also spoke about the large energy investments, noting that we are one of the first 10 countries in the world in energy production from the sun and wind.

He also mentioned the many things that, as he said, still need to be done. In particular, he spoke about the reform of the NHS and what remains to be done in Education, where he said, among other things, that 25,000 permanent appointments have already been made, the number of experimental and model schools has increased significantly and interactive tables have been installed.

He also said that the state is still the big patient but, he noted, steps have been taken. On this he referred to the transformation of Civil Protection, the digital revolution and the EFKA which now pays out pensions on time.

“Many foci of anachronism are lurking in the central administration, as the tragedy in Tempe showed. But 112 is also a state, so are EMAK, the border guards in Evros, the coastguard officers. The state organized a perfect vaccination campaign and the same state invites thousands of Greek women to have free mammograms,” he added.

Mr. Mitsotakis said that next week he will present the ND program for the next four years for a strong Greece, with 5 clear priorities.

“First, we are committed to raising wages. We know they are still low and we can increase them by 25% by the end of 2027 if we maintain 3% annual growth. We once fought to stay in Europe. The battle of our generation’s trial is to become Europe in all fields.

Second pursuit to upgrade public health.

The third goal is the best state, the most efficient government. At the beginning of March, we held the first ASEP national competition in order to have a register of successful candidates. We will apply in practice what is valid in the civil service code, the two-year probationary period. It will be done. This is how it should be done. Digital card in the public sector, evaluation for everyone.

Wednesday priority is to support the new generation with many interventions. The “My Home” program has already attracted interest. I have pledged that once the funds are exhausted we will double the fund. There are other actions that are being implemented.

Our fifth priority is the continuation of our national policy in matters of foreign relations, security and immigration”, he stressed.