Democracies must remain vigilant and provide tangible benefits to citizens, Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned on Thursday in his introductory speech to the Democracy Summit convened by US President Joe Biden.
“Greece was the first European nation to experience populism and the first to subsequently reject it,” he said.
“In the end, I believe that Greece rejected populism because people recognized that there is an alternative based on pragmatic policies,” he said.
He pointed out that Greece rejected populism because people recognized that there was an alternative based on pragmatic policies. “This year, growth in Greece is projected to be around 7%. And we are just as optimistic about the coming years. “This is a democracy that focuses on providing tangible benefits through economic efficiency.”
It is noted that the Biden initiative aims to help address authoritarianism and strengthen democratic institutions and human rights worldwide.
The Summit, which, due to the pandemic, is being held online, was attended by 111 leaders from around the world. There are no countries that, according to the US, have authoritarian regimes and do not respect human rights.
The Prime Minister, during his introductory speech at the Summit, stated the following: (unofficial translation from English)
“President Biden, ladies and gentlemen,
Today’s Conference on Democracy is taking place at a critical time for the world. In order to strengthen democracy, we must also address the continuing threat posed not only by authoritarianism but also by populism.
In recent years, Greece, the birthplace of democracy, has experienced first-hand the divisive political behavior, the promises that were refuted and the empty rhetoric of both far-left and far-right populism – and rejected both.
After a decade of economic crisis, Greeks realized the need for real change, advocating a reform agenda that was patriotic rather than nationalistic.
Our success lies in our ability to listen – to listen to the legitimate objections and concerns that fueled citizens’ anger – and then to address those concerns. So we were and remain determined to focus on the really important issues for the citizens.
Issues such as prioritizing investment, job creation and growth. Improving the efficiency of the public sector by combating bureaucracy. Reducing inequalities and emphasizing entrepreneurship and innovation through the digitization of the state and partnerships with the private sector, rather than in conflict with it.
For the past 2.5 years, we have worked tirelessly to restore citizens’ trust and distribute the benefits of a stable, forward-looking government. We did not allow the pandemic to hinder our reform agenda, our political agenda was forward-looking, including more than 170 reforms.
There were two main goals we are moving towards: to eliminate the corruption that feeds populism and causes indignation and to re-establish the economic foundations of a new, dynamic Greece, a “Greece 2.0” – promoting investment inflows and partnerships between the State and of the private sector without precedent, with a significant increase in employment in recent years and a revolution in digitization and green energy.
Because, in its quintessence, the democracy that works for the people is the one that has its roots in the economic security and financial security of the progressive center, not at the extremes of the left and the right.
The creation of gov.gr, a digital hub where services are concentrated, has been a key factor in our success. By bringing our once-obsolete digital infrastructure into the 21st century, we have reduced costs, speeded up administrative procedures, increased transparency, and eliminated easy opportunities for corruption. All of this boosted citizens’ confidence in democracy itself and provided benefits, often with a single click.
In the end, I believe that Greece rejected populism because people recognized that there is an alternative based on pragmatic policies, which brought not only recovery, but also long-term sustainable and equitable development, which citizens can see and feel. This year, growth in Greece is projected to be around 7%. And we are just as optimistic about the coming years. This is a democracy that focuses on providing tangible benefits through economic efficiency.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As the first European nation to experience populism and the first to subsequently reject it, we must remain vigilant.
If we are to follow the path of peace, progress and prosperity, we must recognize the danger of complacency and continue to listen to the voice of the people. After all, the very word “democracy”, from the Greek terms “municipality” and “state”, means “power or authority of the people”. “If we forget this, we run the risk of facing the consequences.”
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