“We are determined to move forward together towards the Greece of 2030,” the Prime Minister said, stressing that he will continue to be actively at the forefront of political action.

With the slogan “Together for the Greece of 2030”, the 16th Ordinary Congress of New Democracy began on Friday 15 May at the Metropolitan Expo, which will conclude on Sunday 17 May.

The President of the Organising Committee Theodoros Roussopoulos announced the opening of the proceedings, followed by the speech of Prime Minister and President of the New Democracy Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

In his statement he said that the country is entering a new national course with the 2027 elections on the horizon, noting that New Democracy is called upon to play a decisive role, to be close to all social groups, to listen to the problems of citizens and to provide answers, acting as a link between the government and society.

At the same time, he stressed that the presence of the delegates is, as he said, a response to those who claim that the party has been weakened, recalling its timeless course since its foundation by Constantine Karamanlis.

In addition, he said he remains firmly behind the party, stressing the need to openly raise the issue of seeking a third term in government.

Referring to the country’s course, he noted that it is necessary to examine the past, to recognise both mistakes and successes, so that this experience leads to better planning for the future.

Referring to the economic crisis, he described the particularly difficult period of the previous decade, with high unemployment, business closures and intense social pressure. But he stressed that the country has now turned the corner, noting the recovery of the investment grade, the reduction of unemployment, the creation of new jobs, as well as the increase in incomes and the minimum wage.

At the same time, he acknowledged that accuracy remains a serious problem for households, stressing that permanent income increases and tax cuts are needed in response to inflationary pressures.

In addition, he referred to the international crises of recent years – such as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and inflationary pressures – noting that they have created an environment of uncertainty in which stability is a key priority.

Finally, he spoke of future plans to exploit the country’s undersea wealth, while criticising previous governments over their management of the economy. At the same time, he argued that New Democracy remains the dominant political force and that it deserves a new electoral mandate to continue its course.