The goal of winning a third consecutive term in government in the 2027 national elections was set as a central axis by the President of the New Democracy and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during the closing speech of the 16th Party Congress, which was held from Friday 15 May to today, Sunday 17 May. Mitsotakis identified this pursuit as a move “unprecedented in modern Greek history”, while he also assured the economic staff that the government would say “a big no” to parochialism, while remaining within the limits of the budget.

He went on to note that of the 16 congresses in the party’s 52-year history, seven have been organised under his presidency. In this context, he stressed that “history is always written only by those present and participating in the struggles”, adding, addressing the delegates, that “you are the strength of New Democracy” and that the internal party processes give voice to the grassroots, while calling on the party’s executives to direct political activity and communication with society.

The Prime Minister announced that by the end of August, all outstanding issues of the 36 billion euro Recovery Fund must be completed so that hundreds of project launches can begin. At the same time, he set as a new key priority for the next four years organised care for the elderly and palliative care in the NHS. Mitsotakis personified the electoral stakes by putting the comparison directly between himself and the opposition leaders (Androulakis, Famello, Velopoulos, Konstantopoulou), posing the question: “if the prime minister’s phone rings at 3:00 a.m., who will pick it up and who can manage the next crisis?”

The basis for funding social care, health and defence is economic growth, he said. Mitsotakis, while taking stock of 2019, he referred to the creation of almost 600,000 new jobs, the conquest of the investment grade and the reduction of public debt. On the latter, Mitsotakis said that “it is a national responsibility and a national imperative to reduce it” in order to avoid passing the burden on to the next generation.

Regarding incomes, he added that the minimum wage stands at 920 euros with a forecast to exceed 950 euros in 2027, while the average full-time salary is 1,500 euros. On inflation, the Prime Minister noted that “enhanced income, permanent wage increases, nominal wage increases or tax cuts are the definitive mound against inflation.” He further attributed the increased revenue and surpluses to the implementation of the interconnection of POS with cash registers to tackle tax evasion.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the government’s agenda for the next period focuses on modernizing the state through digitization, artificial intelligence and institutional changes. In the health sector, he recalled existing interventions, such as free preventive examinations, paperless prescription and the distribution of expensive medicines at home.

Speaking on education, he mentioned the appointment of 40,000 teachers, the operation of model schools and the establishment of non-state universities. On the situation in educational institutions, the Prime Minister said that “today there is not a single active occupation in any public university,” adding that the police intervene whenever their assistance is sought.

On foreign policy issues, he referred to the strengthening of arms programmes (Rafale fighter jets, Belharra frigates), the financing of which he said comes from taxpayers’ resources. Mitsotakis described the country’s geostrategic role as a “bridge between Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India”, and recalled that Greece will assume the presidency of the European Union in July 2027.

May 17, 2026