The former Minister of Citizen Protection and Member of Parliament of New Democracy, Takis Theodorikakos, spoke in the Parliament about an “extremely important bill for postal voting in the European elections”.

“With our positive vote in the postal vote, we show that we are truly the Parliament of all Greeks, everywhere on Earth, we show that Greece opens its arms to expatriates” emphasized Mr. Theodorikakos.

His entire speech

“Ladies and gentlemen colleagues,

We will soon vote on an extremely important bill for postal voting in the European elections of Greeks abroad mainly, but also internally where this is necessary.
The debate that took place in the parliament has highlighted, even when we agree, how difficult is the path of consensus and understanding between the political forces, but also how necessary this path is – And mandatory. Not only because 200 votes are needed when we talk about national elections. But also because for issues of global Hellenism, we must do everything to present a true image of stable unity.
In my view and in the view of our great faction of the New Democracy, politics is meaningful when it consistently serves values. And even in the age of globalization we are going through, the most important values ​​are patriotism and freedom.
In the first months of his election to the leadership of New Democracy, the current Prime Minister had spoken about the new patriotism that should guide our course. That is why the New Democracy did everything to strengthen Greece through the strengthening of the presence of global Hellenism, to practically give vote and power to the political participation of Greeks abroad in every corner of the planet. It was, after all, our basic pre-election commitment to the Greek people. I had the honor then to serve in the extremely responsible position of Minister of the Interior. From the first months of our governmental presence in 2019, we worked very hard with an open spirit of consultation, with the aim of the necessary consensus, in order to make the participation of Greeks abroad from the countries in which they are a reality. This is the reason, dear president of PASOK, that there were three legislative initiatives by New Democracy. The government’s true interest in the participation of Greeks abroad in the political decisions of the homeland and I believe the interest of all political forces in reality. Both brought results. And one law improved the other when political associations allowed it.
You all remember that in the first attempt in 2019, we were three parties firmly in favor of the full participation of Greeks abroad and by postal vote: New Democracy, PA.SO.K. and the Greek solution. And then SYRIZA believed that we would not find the necessary 200 votes that we finally achieved through the agreement with the KKE. I want to take this opportunity to repeat to you that that agreement was not a personal choice of mine. It was the choice of the prime minister and of our party as a whole and it brought about a very important result, allowing more than 300,000 Greek citizens to be able to vote from abroad. Who I doubt if they ever learned that they have the possibility to vote from the country they are in. However as you know in the recent elections 25,000 of our compatriots voted in foreign countries. I also want to note that thanks to that arrangement, Greeks from the diaspora entered the Greek parliament and one of them is now the president of a party and even the leader of the official opposition. This was followed in July by the passing of the law that removed every obstacle for Greeks abroad . A very important reform.
And we come to today – The postal vote in the European elections established by this bill is undoubtedly a positive development, which makes it easier for citizens to participate in the elections. It is something that happens in 22 countries of the European Union. I also want to note with emphasis that the government, the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs accepted improvement proposals made by the opposition so that there are no doubts, questions and doubts about its validity and reliability electoral process.
However, postal voting is not enough for mass participation in the elections. Greeks abroad must be inspired by realistic visions and goals for the homeland, by ideas, by values, by policies, by real stakes for the present and future of Hellenism and the homeland. They must, with their minds and hearts, embrace the value of participation and this, ladies and gentlemen, must become the duty and responsibility of all of us. Certainly the government, but also the entire political system and the organizations of global Hellenism themselves. And it is a positive challenge for each of us to contribute constructively and effectively.
So instead of sending out a divisive image, let’s all vote for this bill together, let’s cooperate in its implementation, and after the European elections with the first implementation of the postal vote, let’s do our best for a new big step forward, with unity and consensus for the next parliamentary elections.
I invite you with our vote in favor of the bill, to give a strong positive message of unity and participation of global Hellenism in the future of Greece.

Ladies and gentlemen, with our positive vote in the postal vote, we show that we are truly the Parliament of the Greeks. All Greeks, everywhere on Earth.
We show that we are the Parliament of World Hellenism.
We show that Greece opens its arms to expatriates”.