With the passing of amendments to the Constitution of New Democracy, the proceedings of the second day of the 16th Ordinary Congress of the party began.
“Today is a milestone day for our historic and great party,” Smyrlis said. “After a constructive pre-conference trip throughout Greece, we are all here, at the 16th Ordinary Congress of New Democracy, which marks the official start of our preparations for the upcoming national elections. United and even stronger in our party’s top institutional process, to continue our dialogue on our policies, to take stock of our important governmental work, to elect the new Political Committee, to set the political priorities that make up the vision of New Democracy, our President and Prime Minister of our country Kyriakos Mitsotakis for Greece 2030.”
Thanking the “selfless New Democrats” who are fighting in neighbourhoods, villages, cities, in society and achieving great electoral victories, he said that “it is no accident that we have cultivated a substantial relationship of trust with the Greek people”.
He pointed out that “during the period of our government, from 2019 until today, we have managed, despite the many crises such as this pandemic, the global energy crisis, with a lot of hard work and effective coordination, to implement the programme for which the Greek people trusted us. Our Ministers throughout the period of the pre-conference dialogue, and these days in the themes we have organized, present the achievements of our policies, present the political directions for the coming years, with an eye on Greece 2030, and of course our executives present their views.”
She then briefly touched on three very important pillars of governance from 2019 to date. The economy, digital modernization of the state and foreign and defense policy.
On the defence sector, he noted that “for several weeks now, we have been experiencing an extremely difficult and unpredictable situation for the whole planet, as the Middle East is on fire. Greece, as you know, has rapidly developed defence and diplomatic activity. We immediately supported Cyprus by sending the frigate Psara, four F-16 Viper aircraft and the newly acquired frigate Kimon, mobilising other European forces. We are proud that our government has been able to significantly enhance the equipment of the Armed Forces, keeping our borders impregnable.
In addition, Agenda 2030 is the biggest reform for the creation of an even more powerful Armed Forces, our accession to Safe combined with the development of even stronger alliances with countries such as France, the US, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, among others, have substantially strengthened Greece’s geopolitical role and made it a reliable player in Europe and the world. Today we can talk about a bigger and stronger Homeland,” Smyrlis said.
He concluded by thanking the participants and called on the participants “to send out a message of preparation, unity and victory for the upcoming elections from today’s Ordinary Congress! To go forward strongly to win again, to form for the third consecutive time an independent Government to make our President Kyriakos Mitsotakis Prime Minister of Greece for the third time!To continue to have political, economic and social stability and to be able to progress, for an even stronger Greece! We continue again together! For the Greece of 2030!”
