At its anniversary meeting Parliament the prime minister spoke about the restoration of the Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakisnoting that the government is stronger than ever, since “the Greece of 1974 has nothing to do with the Greece of 2024”, as he characteristically stated.

At the same time, he assured that in 2027 when the citizens will be called to the polls again, the country will be much better than today. “Our goal is rapid convergence with the most advanced EU countries,” added the prime minister.

“Half a century ago there was nothing that we take for granted today”

“This day of celebration of the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the Republic in the land that gave birth to it, I wanted to be in the Parliament, in the place that the Dictatorship desecrated and captured for 7 years”, the Prime Minister pointed out at the beginning of his speech, adding that “the birthday of the 3rd Hellenic Republic is not an occasion of memory and honor, but opportunity for reflection”.

“Historical time is dense, half a century ago there was nothing that we take for granted today. For this reason, the post-colonial period proves the resilience of a people who kept alive the ideals of democracy”, Mr. Mitsotakis then underlined, while referring to the National Leader, Konstantinos Karamanlis, he said:

“Konstantinos Karamanlis assumed the responsibility to manage the tragedy of Cyprus. He formed a government of national unity without letting any ideological blinders take him from his goal. He legalized all parties, including the KKE, and opened the way to Democracy.

Then he shrewdly founded the ND where he also gathered radical forces. This was the preface to a plan with four pillars: political stability, unity, growth and European orientation. The 1975 Constitution was a pioneering text. The same values ​​run through our own founding declaration”.

“This was the preface to a plan with four pillars: political stability, unity, growth and European orientation. It is no coincidence that the 50 years of the Republic coincide with the 50 years of the ND. The faction’s compass only points forward so that the party serves the interests of society.”

“During this half century, a lot has changed in our country with the contribution of many politicians. Parliamentarianism was established by conquering parties to alternate smoothly in power. Patriotism returned to its original dimensions after its brutal abuse by the Junta. At the same time, the economy developed and with the help of Europe, critical infrastructures were built in the territory, family law was modernized, we secured the invariable nationwide courts, the merit-based ASEP, we entered the EMU and the euro. The country reunited with its culture in the spring of the 60s, which was followed by the bad taste of the Dictatorship,” Mr. Mitsotakis recalled.

“The goal can be no other than convergence with the most advanced EU countries – Nowadays the thread of national goals is coming together again”

The prime minister also underlined that the goal cannot be other than the rapid convergence with the most advanced EU countries. “, he underlined.

Mr. Mitsotakis said that he is talking about problems that require time as their solution goes beyond electoral cycles and also requires perseverance. “Much more when in the last 15 years the place has proved that it has inexhaustible powers”, he emphasized. “It is a special experience in the post-political arc that intersects the stigma of bankruptcy. 50 years are divided into 40 plus 10,” he added.

“Nowadays it seems that the thread of the central national goals is coming together again”, reiterating the demand for rapid European convergence.

“We claim this perspective today, drawing conclusions from yesterday. And just as in 2023 the country was better than in 2019, so in 2027 it will be better than today. In this last phase there were conquests that were by no means easy and self-evident,” he added.

“A complex present calls us to close accounts with the past”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to a series of policies in all sectors and spoke about the needs of today.

“A complex present calls us to close accounts with the past and face the great challenges of the future. With legality everywhere”, the Prime Minister underlined.

Mr. Mitsotakis said that this project is a one-way street and that this is being quietly realized by large sections of society who find that many of the doctrines of the post-colonialism were scarecrows against progress.

“This is progress that runs through the institutions and the attitude of the voters. I remind you that party programs now have to be priced and public opinion is leaving behind ideologies in search of tangible results,” he pointed out.

“They represent steps of maturity that give us additional optimism for tomorrow. Greek men and women, the time has come to confront what was undermining our path. At this crossroads of 50 years the balance of achievements and weaknesses must be fair,” he continued.

“It would be a mistake in this day and age for individual shadows to hide the overall picture of a particular route. The Greece of 2024 has nothing to do with the Greece of 1974”, stressed the Prime Minister.

“We welcome half a century of the Third Greek Republic with more confidence”

“Our state has deepened, focusing more on the protection of the most vulnerable. Groups that lived on the margins now have all the rights. It is no coincidence that the latest report on the rule of law of the European Commission ranks Greece among the 9 countries among the 27 with the fewest recommendations, despite those who proclaim that we are an authoritarian democracy”, underlined Mr. Mitsotakis.

He also said that the Parliament has been functioning well for five decades and that it has shown that it knows and can guard its procedures and has opened itself to the citizens giving a real presence.

“The government is already promoting a series of changes that improve the daily life of citizens. Today is not a day for fruitless confrontations. This, however, does not prevent me from addressing the wings of the opposition, always asking for clear proposals. Postcolonialism may seem like a relatively short period in relation to historical time, but at the same time it does not cease to constitute 1/4 of the life of the free state”, said Mr. Mitsotakis.

The prime minister stated that the major national elections coincide with the timeless positions of the ND.

“May the 50 years since the return of the Republic become a starting point for a better public life and a better Greece,” said Mr. Mitsotakis.

“We welcome the half century of the Third Greek Republic with more confidence. Keeping our ties with society strong. We monitor the changes, increase the speeds of our project. The coming season will be difficult. As we have paid for the unnecessary polarization, we have a duty to prove that yes, we are rivals, but we are not enemies”, stressed Mr. Mitsotakis and closing his speech he wished “a happy birthday to our Republic”.