Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid a visit to Larissa, where he attended the gathering of regional governor candidate Kostas Agorastos, on Friday.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke at a gathering of citizens, in which the newly elected Mayor of Larisa Th. Mamakos was also present, while the MPs and executives of the ND, as well as the candidate for Regional Mayor El. Tzanakoulis, who announced her support for K. Agorastos.

Watch the video from onlarissa.gr:

Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his greeting:

“Mr. Regional Governor, Mr. Mayor, friends, first of all I want you to reserve a very warm round of applause for the very big winner of the first Sunday, your new Mayor. And another big round of applause for the big winner of next Sunday, your District Governor, Kostas Agorastos.

Friends, I wanted to meet with you today, a few hours before the pre-election period formally ends in view of the second round of the regional elections, and share with you a few thoughts about the great importance of this electoral battle ahead of us.

I want to tell you that I unreservedly, clearly, without any asterisks, support the candidacy of Kostas Agorastos, to continue the work that has been started for two terms.

Friends, I want you to know that our government was close to Thessaly from the first moment of the great earthquake that hit your country. To date, we have disbursed more than 65 million euros to more than 14,000 eligible fellow citizens who saw their properties, their homes, their production, their businesses destroyed by the flood. I know that this project has not been completed and coming here today I met our fellow citizens, your fellow citizens who told me “when will I get the money?”.

I want you to know that we have moved at rates much faster than those of “Ianos”, we accelerated the process of state aid and every citizen who is entitled to support will receive it from the Greek state. It is my personal commitment so that we can rebuild together all that was lost in the very difficult days of this unprecedented flood. You are well aware that the government echelon was in Thessaly from the first moment.

We were called to face unprecedented and unprecedented situations. With a method, however, with a plan, without big words, step by step we moved forward and things have already started to get in order. Whether we’re talking about the primary sector – where, you know, prices were also announced for cotton, which I believe exceeded even your own expectations, and that was a personal commitment of mine to support the primary sector – or whether we’re talking about compensation for farmers us, our beekeepers, the support of fishermen. We will be close to each and every one affected by this unprecedented natural disaster.

And I want you to know one more thing, friends. A few days after “Daniel” hit us, I was in Brussels and asked for the help of the European Union and we managed and achieved something very important: more than 600 million euros from the Recovery Fund we managed and redirected to rebuild all the infrastructure that was destroyed and make them better again, not just make them.

Just as we built the mountainous network of Argithea and it basically withstood the weather and the bridges we built also withstood, just as many of the important projects that were done after “Ianos” withstood, so we will rebuild our road networks, we will rebuild the our bridges, we will rebuild our trains. We’re going to rebuild them with other resilience rules, because we have to be ready now, we have to be ready for the climate crisis, which is already here.

I know that here too, in Thessaly and in the Region, many things happened. A lot of things happened that sometimes went unrecognized because I completely understand the anger after a major disaster that may be beyond all of our abilities.

However, friends, I do not want one moment, a natural disaster, to cancel a very important project that the Region did all the past years. It would be unfair if that happened.

Because a lot of work has been done – and you know it too – and we have worked together with Kostas to design the development plan for the next four years for us, the next five years for the Region.

Thessaly really deserves to be able to become the development “steam engine” of the country. We have already taken many steps. I walk today, I see a market full, I see more smiling faces despite the difficulties of punctuality. All this is happening because, friends, the economy is growing and together with the growth of the economy, Larissa, Thessaly is growing. And this ultimately means a better future for each and every one of us.

It is of great importance the next day to be able to work with District Governors and Mayors who share our own development vision. It is our duty to cooperate with everyone, this is what our institutional role dictates. However, we have a clear political preference. We didn’t hide it, we didn’t hide in the difficult times.

We are here to support Kostas Agorastos to win this battle and the next day to be able to continue this very good cooperation that we have had until today.

Last Sunday, friends, citizens sent a political message. In all the polls, throughout the country, they reaffirmed their trust in our great faction, New Democracy, despite the difficulties of the summer, the great ones.

We remain committed to our work, to our reform agenda, to improving the daily lives of each and every one of us, but we want partners. We want partners worthy District Governors, we want partners worthy Mayors.

And I am sure that this duo that we see here today will be the duo that will lead Thessaly and Larissa from January 1, with the Mayor and Kostas being able to continue his work.

So, I want to ask you to put aside any bitterness – there can always be -, any sadness of the moment. I know, I have been in politics for many years to know that local elections always stir up passions, but let’s see and stay focused on the big goal.

And the big goal is how we as a government will have the best possible partners, in order to implement the ambitious recovery plan we have for Thessaly.

Already, ten days after the disaster, I asked a leading foreign company to come to make a complete survey of the irrigation network and the needs that Thessaly has in important anti-flooding projects. And it is my commitment, friends, that we will build a model water management organization of Thessaly, so that we do not flood one day and lack water the next.

With the cooperation of the Region we will launch important projects, we will use the best experts worldwide to do what has not been done for so many years now. This conversation has been going on for decades now about the waters of Thessaly. It’s time to solve the problem and as you know, friends, when I set a goal, I have a “bad” habit of achieving it. We will solve this problem too.

So, in closing, I want to ask you to make this effort in all four Regional Units.

I know very well that no match is decided until the last vote is counted. On Sunday night, I want Kostas and his team to continue the work they have started. I am sure that we will achieve this goal and we will all go strong together, for the Thessaly that you deserve.

In Larissa we have already achieved the goal. Again, warm congratulations to the new Mayor, we will do great things together.

Be well, good strength and victory.”

In his greeting, the Regional Governor of Thessaly and re-candidate, Kostas Agorastos, said:

“President, Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, we welcome you once again to Larissa, in Thessaly and thank you for the love and practical interest for every Thessalian and for every Thessalian.

Sunday dawns another day for Thessaly. Day of creation, with the plan, the program we have for every person, for every Thessaly and for every Thessalian. For the student, the student, the farmer, the breeder, the fisherman, the beekeeper, the health worker. For better health, for culture, for sports, for everyone together, without discrimination, without exclusions.

We are here, we exist for each of you and for everyone together, and I thank Kyriakos Mitsotakis, our Prime Minister, for his great practical interest in Thessaly.

I ask for your support, I ask that we go even higher, together, united, with everyone and for everyone, Thessaly. Let’s go together strong forward, strong on Sunday. Thank you”.

“The day after tomorrow we have another battle, which will be a victory for all the Thessalians and we should all support the fight of Kostas Agorastos”, noted the newly elected Mayor of Larisa Thanasis Mamakos.