“The important historical fact is that yesterday, the most historic faction of the country turned 50 years old. Yesterday was not Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ birthday. Yesterday, it was the birthday of all New Democrats. I would have liked to have seen them there,” he said and in the show “Kalimera” with Faye Mavragani, the minister of health Adonis Georgiadis, on the occasion of the absence of former Prime Ministers Costas Karamanlis and Antonis Samaras from the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the New Democracy.

He noted, however, that “there is no problem in the unity of the faction.”

It is recalled that Kyriakos Mitsotakis had personally contacted Mr. Karamanlis and Mr. Samaras to participate in the event. The prime minister’s telephone conversation with the two former prime ministers was confirmed by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis during the briefing of political editors last Tuesday.

“The two former prime ministers could not be absent from the anniversary event for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the ND,” said Mr. Marinakis, stating that he is not competent to answer whether they will attend or not.

The absence of the two prime ministers from the party’s 50th “birthday” came in the wake of their sharp statements at an event at the War Museum last June.

Yesterday, the prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakisduring his speech he made extensive reference to the faction’s founder, Konstantinos Karamanlis, characterizing him, among other things, as a pragmatist and anti-populist. “In a broad faction, at times, obviously, not everyone will agree on everything, but the many will agree on many things, especially on the issues that are critical for the homeland,” noted Mr. Mitsotakis.

He also emphasized that the late Konstantinos Karamanlis acted without seeking to flatter public opinion and that he always chose to cooperate with the most capable. Referring, indirectly but not clearly, to the expansion that New Democracy has been attempting in recent years, the prime minister meaningfully pointed out that “life has proven that the wider the branches of ND spread, the more they justify the power of its roots. This is the best answer to the few who want an entrenched faction, closed and ultimately defeatist.”

Mr. Mitsotakis mentioned by name all the presidents of the faction without exception and addressing the supporters of the party he said “today I ask you to honor all the presidents of New Democracy, present and absent”.