By Penelope Galliou

Megaros Maximos is attempting to close any fronts that remain open with society and still cause dissatisfaction among a portion of ND voters, with the prime minister himself taking the relevant initiatives. In this context, the highly symbolic joint visit launched next Friday by Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Archbishop Hieronymos to the Church’s elderly care structure in Delesi is part of this context.

A re-approach of the two sides, after the “distance” and the turmoil caused in the relations between the Maxim Palace and the Archdiocese by the passing of the bill for the marriage of same-sex couples. A fact that still, as can be seen, retains its imprint on part of Greek society. A tangible example is the recent attacks on blue-collar MPs who supported the disputed legislation.

On this, in the Maximos Palace, they welcomed with particular satisfaction the statement of Archbishop Ieronymos on the occasion of the incident that happened in the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen in the Pulideio Nursing Home in Kavala against the ND MP Aggeliki Delikaris, because she voted for the bill for the marriage of same-sex couples . Mr. Hieronymos condemned the event, underlining that the Church does not take revenge and in this way drew a dividing line from priests and believers who continue to be “aggressive” towards the government agents and parliamentarians of the ND.

In this climate and with Easter just around the corner and the ND MPs returning to their constituencies from the end of the week, where they will attend churches even more often – due to the days – the prime minister’s concern is to smooth out the differences that arose in the last months in the relations between the State and the Church. Given all of this, it is estimated that the joint meeting and visit of Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the Archbishop to the church structures will send a message of “reconciliation” and reduce the distance that the recent political conditions have created. The same message is expected to be sent by the formal meeting that will be held next Tuesday, April 23, by Archbishop Hieronymos with the Minister of Education, Religion and Sports, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, at the Ministry of Education.

Meanwhile, the prime minister’s barrage of tours throughout Greece continues, with today’s stop being Lamia first and then Karditsa. At the center of all the Prime Minister’s visits is the government’s positive narrative about the work that has been accomplished during its five-year term, but also the unhindered continuation of the reforms, setting the message of stability and continuity. “Send a message of stability”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis had called, presenting the ND’s European ballot paper, stressing that the stronger the ND is, “the better we will proceed with changes and reforms”, the prime minister said in his speech and is expected to repeat it emphatically in every corner of the country that he will visit throughout the pre-election period.

According to the Prime Minister’s schedule, at 10:00 Kyriakos Mitsotakis will attend and speak at the event for the delivery of the Lamia-Kalambaka section of the Central Greece Motorway E65, while afterwards, the Prime Minister will attend and speak at the presentation about the restoration of damages from the bad weather “Daniel” and “Elias”, in Mouzaki Karditsa.