“The Prime Minister and New Democracy have been and will continue to be the guarantors of a self-sufficient Greece even after the next elections,” the head of state stressed. Yannis Oikonomou in his speech at the meeting of the presidents of DEEP and NODE ND.

A government spokesman stressed that ND, a party founded in 1974 by Konstantinos Karamanlis as a vehicle for the conservative and liberal faction in Greece, is the longest-running party in power in modern Greek history and the strongest center-right party in Europe.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the election results in France, Italy, Sweden and a number of other countries show that the great political battles and high stakes of the 21st century are ideological and value-driven. The Western world is ruthlessly fighting Russian despotism and revisionism, although this is painfully affecting the quality of our life. This struggle can be justified and legitimized in the mass consciousness only on an ideological and value basis,” Mr. Economou emphasized, noting that only parties with principles and values ​​can respond to the current political situation, because only they can convincingly justify people’s politics to inspire citizens and get them on board.

“New Democracy, as a party with historical and value profundity, retains its leading role and in recent years, under the leadership of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has strengthened its electoral and social influence. This is a party that cares about people, defending the homeland and the nation. At the same time, our adherence to liberal ideals ensures that populism does not sink to the level of cheap populism and that the individual is not leveled by the whole,” he added.

A government spokesman said that for the past fifty years, New Democracy has been a party of stability, consistency and continuity. “A party that a citizen can rely on. A party committed to democracy, liberalism, the defense of the homeland and national rights, a party that respects the principles, values, traditions and history of Hellenism, a party with a European orientation, a popular party whose policy has as its only guiding principle this genuine popular interest. And at the same time, a party that can and does open up new trends, new people, which can assimilate and use responsible people and creative minds. A party that can constantly expand and develop. Beware though, it expands without mutating, it evolves without changing. And the reason why this happens is described by one important Greek word. This word is perhaps the only premise. This word is respect. Respect for our history, respect for our people, respect for our organization,” he said.

At the same time, he said that all other Greek parties are on the move. “Today we see that the parties of the left do not deal with real popular problems and that their agenda has no connection with reality. We also see parties that want to be called right-wing, competing in anti-Europeanism and supporting international authoritarianism or even fascism. Greece has opposition, yielding to its institutional role, international demands and technological developments. Technophobic, ideological, irresponsible opposition. The opposition, which does not add, but constantly takes away from the country and society. An opposition that surrounds its political desperation and tries to use as a means not only every crisis, but even terrible and heinous crimes in order to gain in the elections,” he said.

Mr. Economou also said that the government has successfully handled the crises it was designed to deal with with pragmatism, experience and professionalism.

“The crisis caught us at the end of a difficult journey. Greece has lagged behind international developments for a decade of memorandums. At the same time, since 2020, international crises have made it difficult to restore the imbalance created in the decade 2010-2019. The government is trying to fill the gap that has been created, and the numerous and rapid changes sometimes provoke reactions and uncertainty in several sections of society. The truth is that crisis management cannot be without losses and consequences. But in general, and taking into account the international situation, it should be considered successful, since the social fabric was not torn, the stability of the country and the integrity of the Motherland were not shaken, huge irreparable wounds were not created in society. , he emphasized.

And he stressed: “The successive crises we have dealt with have been capable of creating the conditions for a national tragedy in a state with the dynamics and characteristics of Greece that we received from SYRIZA in 2019. Of course, we should not underestimate the presence of justified and expected fatigue. in Greek society from the memos, the pandemic and the accuracy caused by the war. Our stamina is low. But we shouldn’t easily forget that things could have been much worse. Because right is done in only one way, and wrong is done in an infinite number of ways. Bitterly and painfully experienced our people in 2015, when they realized that trouble could come in the next moment due to populism and amateurism.

The government spokesman further stated that the main concern of the government was the people living below an acceptable standard of living and the middle class.

“We have a political plan to fairly share the wealth that we already create and will create through our policies, and to help people withstand the consequences of successive crises. An effective and high-quality social safety net can only be created if it creates wealth,” he stressed.

He also stated that the government is upholding justice as a pillar of democracy, strengthening national defense, protecting our national borders, and successfully dealing with the serious problem of immigration, sharply reducing unemployment, raising base wages, and providing a huge package to mitigate the effects of precision. crises, strengthens the NHS at an unprecedented level and supports healthcare professionals in the long and laborious fight against the pandemic, fights the wave of precision in goods and energy like no other in Europe, modernizes and digitizes the state, fights against domestic violence, listens to the needs of young people and helps them find a new quality job.

“A government that defends the homeland from sycophants who have gone so far as to make Greece look worse in terms of freedom of the press and the rule of law than African dictatorships. This government, led by the Prime Minister, leaves no challenge unanswered, both political and local. We continue our fight selflessly, modestly and with respect for the citizen, correcting our weaknesses and our mistakes, which are inevitable for anyone who acts and tries to change something. Citizens are invited to choose which Greece they want. The main criterion is politics, not ideology. Do we want investment and new jobs or a subsidized impoverishment policy? Lower or higher taxes? Digital or bureaucratic and outdated public? Strong or disorganized YOU? Open borders or strict immigration policy? Strengthening the armed forces and law enforcement agencies or cultural nihilism? Relations of mutual cooperation with the superpowers of the planet or naive wanderings in the third world? Universities of quality or sanctuaries of iniquity? Relentless national politics or a wink at revisionism? he continued.

Mr. Economou said that the dividing lines go beyond traditional dipoles, which does not correspond to the new reality.

“The new world requires inventive and bold solutions. The great crises and structural adjustments of the 21st century are causing terrible upheavals. The degradation of the quality of life of citizens, immigration, the crisis of democracy, etc. they cannot be dealt with by the metapolitical logic of enterprise parties and opportunistic political formations of indignation, protest and reaction. Moreover, problems are not solved by adding political dead ends. In a dangerously turbulent world, parties with a solid historical and social base are needed. Parties such as New Democracy. They need leaders with structure, knowledge and a deep understanding of their mission. They need leaders like Kyriakos Mitsotakis,” he stressed.

Source: RES