OUR New Democracy will strive for self-reliance, but if he does not achieve it, he will not close the chapter of cooperation with any party that has a “European and reformist orientation,” Deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Bratakos answers in an interview with K. On the contrary, he shuts down any possibility of cooperation with Mr. Velopoulos’s party, noting that “we and any version of populism have nothing to do with it.”

At the same time, Mr. Bratakos raises the dilemma of the next election, specifying whether it will be “Mitsotakis or Tsipras”, while he defends the state state, saying that it has successfully handled the large and exogenous crises that the government faced. trying to solve pathologies that are already several decades old. As for the role of the ministers, he states that it is important and they act as a solid team with a common goal.

Finally, regarding the wiretapping case, Mr. Bratakos states that the government functioned perfectly institutionally and the Prime Minister demanded the consolidation of the structure, but unfortunately “there was no political sobriety and wisdom to seize the opportunity for further institutional booking countries”.

– For the government of Mitsotakis, every day is a time not only for politics, but also for work. The fewer days left before the elections, the more we will accelerate the implementation of the state project and our obligations. Our spirit and our purpose is to fulfill our final commitment to the last day. The work we have done to date is objectively great. And this is recognized by the vast majority of citizens, regardless of whether they vote for us or not. And this, together with the personal authority of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is our main “weapon” in the battle in which we will fight so that the Greek people will renew the mandate that he gave us. We have a clear conscience that we behaved with respect and responsibility in the first mandate given to us by the Greek people. From the first moment we showed that we are ready. And we were. Although we were called to face unprecedented and exogenous crises. Now, with the experience and additional maturity gained during our first term, I am confident that our second term will be a real take-off for the country.

– The state state was created to overcome years of pathologies that led to dysfunction, bureaucracy and rigidity in public administration. Examples from the past, policies or reforms that have not been implemented are endless. Governments changed, ministers left, but problems were not solved. And the one who constantly paid for marble was the citizen and his unresolved problems. As a result, the regular state was justified. This coordinated the successful repulsion of the “migration attack” that we received in 2020 from Turkey on Evros. The state headquarters coordinated the response to the pandemic. This is what has coordinated a multi-faceted effort to expand the social safety net stretched during the pandemic, keeping households afloat and workers and businesses safe. Instead of a “storm of castles”, we have seen a decrease in unemployment. With the coordination of the staff, records were set for investment and development, as well as a significant increase in the production of renewable energy.

The condition of the staff has been confirmed. This coordinated the successful rebuffing of Turkey’s 2020 “migration attack” on Evros and the response to the pandemic.

– Each minister individually, and all together we are a close-knit team working towards one common goal. Every member of government plays an important role. As well as any member of the party. I can only be a member of this group – because I feel that way – and contribute with all my might to the collective work of the government under the leadership of the Prime Minister. This operating model brings the best results and highlights the special abilities of each minister.

“The government will never allow behavior that touches on one of the most sacred topics of the citizens. Clarifications were immediately requested, apparently considered insufficient, and by decision of the Prime Minister, Mr. Pacis was immediately removed from K.O. N.D. I personally remember very few similar cases when the party organs had such a quick and decisive reaction. For our part, and in connection with the upcoming elections, it goes without saying that we will try to carefully examine the condition of each person who is interested in being a candidate. This, of course, does not mean witch-hunting or uncritically accepting every rumor.

“I share the concern of every citizen. But I know that I am in a government that has proven its support and will continue to support society and the market. Although the energy crisis is the result of Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine, it is still an import crisis, the government is subsidizing electricity bills, raising fuel oil prices, opening eyes to diesel fuel, testing punctuality for the most vulnerable. At the same time, he cuts taxes, raises the minimum wage and raises pensions for the first time in many years. At the same time, it creates the infrastructure for changing the economic model, cleaner energy and greater energy security for the country, increasing exports and development. And this opportunity gives us an excess of forecasts for economic growth rates, which means more revenue for the state, which is returned in the form of a social dividend.

So I share the concerns of the townspeople about the difficult winter, but at the same time I am optimistic. On the one hand, because we have laid a solid foundation for the economy, and on the other hand, because we are determined to continue to support society without creating the risk of a fiscal collapse. Those pretending to be “crumbs” donated by the government should wonder why the streets and squares in Greece are not filled with protesters, as they are in France, Italy, Britain and even Germany.

I’m a S.D. native, so I’m for expansion

– It’s been cleared up. We and any variant of populism have nothing to do with it. I believe that the goal of autonomy is quite achievable, because citizens now have a clear comparative picture. Our project and “project” SYRIZA. And basically they have to choose between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Alexis Tsipras. And that will be the real dilemma of the next election: Mitsotakis or Tsipras? Stability and growth or new adventures with new illusions? The prime minister won the trust of the citizens. With his work, with his institutional consistency and with his efficiency. But also boldly and honestly taking responsibility when something goes wrong and fixing it. We have a constant “change of honesty and responsibility.” And in addition to our work, we have clear leadership and a ready government plan for the next four years. We will present them to the Greek people, who will make a decision.

Regardless of the attitude of the PASOK president, on your part, could you approach PASOK again for cooperation, or is this chapter of possible cooperation closed?

– I believe that no chapter of cooperation between parties with a European and reformist orientation should be closed. In politics, you can never say never. Nobody should drive themselves into dead ends. For us, stability in the country is important. And we continue to believe that self-reliant government is the safest and most efficient solution.

– You were the general director of the ND, and your father, Angelos Bratakos, was historically a member of the party. You come from a faction and I want to ask how you see the influx of personnel from other circles into the government. Is there a risk of changing the nature of the party?

– Precisely because I come from a faction, I know very well that – since the founding of the ND – its expansion towards the Center is embedded in its political DNA. From Konstantinos Karamanlis and all the ND party leaders who followed him. its doors were open to capable leaders from other political fields. Kyriakos Mitsotakis is doing and will continue to do the same. With faith and respect for the faction, we look forward to a great, open and strong New Democracy, which employs worthy people from all political fields.

– You took a certain position after the surveillance case. The opposition accuses the government of closing the issue one by one, trying to “cover up”. What will you say, and what does this case ultimately leave to the government?

The government has assumed political responsibility. The Prime Minister himself publicly acknowledged the mistakes made, asked for and received resignations, and most importantly, he launched and is launching institutional changes in order to prevent a repetition of this in the future. At the same time, all the procedures prescribed by the parliament were observed, and the government immediately accepted the proposal of the opposition to create a commission of inquiry. However, unfortunately, in these institutional efforts to improve insurance barriers, the government had no interlocutors. It was opposed by parties that, despite their governmental past, were striving for “political robbery” with a one-sided opposition. The attempt failed and they changed their agenda. It is a pity that there was not enough political sobriety and wisdom to take advantage of the potential for further institutional reservation of the country.

– You are the leader of the market. Is your current role an “appointment” with an expiration date or a first step into the political arena?

– I immediately, with a sense of responsibility, responded to the proposal of the Prime Minister to contribute to the common cause. I am here in body and soul to give all my strength to the collective efforts to implement the government project and the victory of the ND in the elections, which is a condition for the continuation of the stable upward movement of the country. Everything else will come with time.