“In the new four-year period, we are – with consistency, with a plan and vision – intensive continuation of the policies – which have already been proven – make our country stronger, economically, geopolitically, militarily. Policies that ensure high growth rates, increase investment, stimulate employment, improve incomes, strengthen social cohesion. The policies that produce new national wealth and guarantee an increased social dividend. The policies for a strong and proud Greece that is heard and measured seriously from Washington to Brussels and from the Balkans to the Middle East. Which expand and upgrade our strategic alliances. That strengthen our Armed Forces and protect our borders. That ensure our justice and rights in our land and seas. For all of these – and not only – we say yes to the Government’s programmatic statements. Yes to the vote of confidence. Yes to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis”, emphasized the First Member of Parliament of Thessaloniki Stavros Kalafatis of New Democracy, in his speech at Parliament in the debate on the Programmatic Statements of the Government.

“Our main priority – as the Prime Minister clearly emphasized – is to improve the incomes of all Greeks. It is the increase in wages, the further stimulation of employment and the strengthening of social cohesion. From the beginning of the new four-year term, we emphasize social cohesion and family support by creating a Ministry of the same name. Actions for the harmonization of family and professional life, the housing policy for young people, the implementation of support and employment programs for people with disabilities, and the improvement of the position of women in the labor market are continuing and intensifying. At the same time, we set a goal – continuing the policies of the first four years – to reduce unemployment below 8% in 2027 by creating new and better-paid jobs. For this purpose, we are betting on new investments and breath-taking projects throughout the country” the MP pointed out.

Referring to development of the Thessaloniki projects, the St. Kalafatis noted: “At my city, in Thessaloniki, 30 infrastructure projects were launched, interventions and investments, which change its image and perspective. They ensure its repositioning on the map of the future, the balanced development of the entire urban fabric, the improvement of everyone’s daily life: Metro, Flyover, reformation of the TIF site, consolidation of the beach front, oncology and pediatric hospital, Pavlos Melas Metropolitan Park, school facilities , western commuter rail, Holocaust Museum, Thess Intec Technology Park, field facilities for our teams. After concerted efforts, the water entered the groove and nothing can stop it. Everything the Prime Minister said is happening. We do what we say.”

Here is the full text of the speech:

Ladies and gentlemen colleagues

We are establishing these days the policies, the reforms, the actions that we have announced and approved by the citizens.

We are founding the new government term of the New Democracy with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

We are laying the foundation for the second part of the road that takes our country steadily forward, even faster, even higher.

Ladies and gentlemen colleagues,

Our main priority – as the Prime Minister clearly emphasized – is to improve the incomes of all Greeks. It is the increase in wages, the further stimulation of employment and the strengthening of social cohesion.

From the 1st of next year we will have a salary increase for civil servants as well as a new increase in the minimum wage and pensions. In total, within four years, the minimum wage will go to 950 euros and the average wage to 1,500. At the same time, there will be an increase in the tax-free allowance by 1,000 euros for families with children.

From the beginning of the new four-year term, we emphasize social cohesion and family support by creating a Ministry of the same name. Actions for the harmonization of family and professional life, the housing policy for young people, the implementation of support and employment programs for people with disabilities, and the improvement of the position of women in the labor market are continuing and intensifying.

At the same time, we set a goal – continuing the policies of the first four years – to reduce unemployment below 8% in 2027 by creating new and better-paid jobs. For this purpose, we are betting on new investments and breath-taking projects throughout the country.

Hundreds of projects are already underway, bringing new infrastructure to transportation, health and education, highlighting our cultural heritage, improving everyday life.

I note separately that in my city, Thessaloniki, 30 infrastructure projects, interventions and investments were launched, which change its image and perspective. They ensure its repositioning on the map of the future, the balanced development of the entire urban fabric, the improvement of everyone’s daily life: Metro, Flyover, reformation of the TIF site, consolidation of the beach front, oncology and pediatric hospital, Pavlos Melas Metropolitan Park, school facilities , western commuter rail, Holocaust Museum, Thess Intec Technology Park, field facilities for our teams.

After concerted efforts, the water entered the groove and nothing can stop it. Everything the Prime Minister said is happening. We do what we say.

Our main priority – and a personal commitment of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis – for the new four-year period is the reform of the National Health System so that every citizen, wherever he lives, has immediate and free quality health services.

We promote:

The modernization of hospitals and health centers.

The increase in nursing staff.

The immediate reinforcement of EKAB with extraordinary utilization of human resources of our Armed Forces and the Fire Department.

The creation of helicopter bases for rapid airlifts from remote areas.

The full application of the personal doctor.

The expansion of preventive examinations that have been proven to save lives.

The drastic reduction of the waiting time for the Emergency Department, the surgeries and the Emergency Departments.

Our goal is for every citizen to have better and more free health services. And to those who have the audacity to talk about privatizing the NHS, just one thing: Private health costs are currently 38% of the total.

With the reform of the NHS, we will take them, by 2030, to half and even further. And this is not privatization. It’s the exact opposite.

Ladies and gentlemen colleagues,

Our main priority in the new four-year period is the upgrading of the functions of the State. Important steps have already been taken – we see them, for example, in EFKA and the granting of pensions – and we continue even more determinedly.

We put a definitive end to the anachronistic pathologies of the past.

We promote evaluation processes everywhere.

We are completing the digital transformation of the state.

In this way, we put a stop to the queues at the counters, the inconvenience, the opacity, the corruption.

We bring the state next to the citizen, a helper and not a manipulator of their activities.

At the same time, we emphasize the speedier delivery of justice.

Ladies and gentlemen colleagues

In the new four-year period, we give – consistently, with a plan and vision – an intensive continuation of the policies – which have already been proven – make our country stronger, economically, geopolitically, militarily.

Policies that ensure high growth rates, increase investment, stimulate employment, improve incomes, strengthen social cohesion.

The policies that produce new national wealth and guarantee an increased social dividend.

The policies for a strong and proud Greece that is heard and measured seriously from Washington to Brussels and from the Balkans to the Middle East.

Which expand and upgrade our strategic alliances.

That strengthen our Armed Forces and protect our borders.

That ensure our justice and rights in our land and seas.

Ladies and gentlemen colleagues

For all of these – and not only – we say yes to the Government’s programmatic statements. Yes to the vote of confidence. Yes to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Thanks.