To participate in upcoming European elections, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called the Cretans, addressing citizens in the center of Heraklion. Reiterating his great joy over the fact that Crete was “painted” blue in the previous elections, both in May and June 2023, he asked them to renew their trust in New Democracy and in the upcoming electoral battle.

“Europe will play a decisive role in developments in our country in the next five years.” said the prime minister, adding that the image of the country since 2019 has changed radically. “Remember where we were in 2019, when for the first time Greek citizens trusted us with a country that was the black sheep of Europe. The problem child of the European family. Within five years, it has turned into a country which in many areas is an example to follow”, noted Mr. Mitsotakis and clarified: “We have regained our lost credibility in Europe and our voice is heard strongly.”

Addressing the people gathered on the pedestrian street of Diakiosini, where the election center of New Democracy is located, the prime minister asked for their support in the elections, stressing that the goal is to make the best effort “to increase participation in the ballot box on June 9 towards the citizens who voted for us both in May and in June ’23. Today they may be a little wary of doing it again, but I ask them to look at the big picture, the progress the country has achieved, the credibility it has gained in Europe, and put aside any resentments.”

“To exorcise at this time the feeling that the elections do not matter much, as the government was judged last June. The citizens trusted us to govern the country for four years, that is not in doubt. But it is of great importance to walk this path, in the next three years until the next elections that will be held in 2027, having registered another great electoral victory”, he added.

Regarding the stakes ahead of the upcoming elections, Mr. Mitsotakis pointed out that in the next five years a lot will be decided in Brussels and Strasbourg, while the elections are of great importance for both Europe and Greece, making – as he said – an attack on voices of populism “from both the right and the left”.

“We must fend off the voices of populism that threaten us from both our right and our left. From the right with the cover of so-called patriots or those who are supposed to have privileged relations with the church, as if faith can be used as a political tool, and from our left the voices that repeat the same mistakes of the past and continue to plant left trees” , underlined the prime minister, who reiterated that the Greek MEPs who will be elected, above all else, should wear the national jersey.

The prime minister was greeted with applause at the ND election center by citizens, while the Cretan lira and mandinades were not missing. “I am voting for a European New Democracy, so that our Greece has a voice in this alliance”, was the chant that the lyre player Nikos Stavrakakis said to Prime Minister Mr. Mitsotakis.