By Dora Antoniou

Associate of the Prime Minister, shortly after the conclusion of yesterday’s meeting held by Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the MPs of the New Democracy at Megaros Maximos, he spoke of “the best climate in five years in the Parliamentary Group”.

The statement may contain a certain amount of exaggeration, however, it shows the importance given by the government leadership to yesterday’s meeting and the fact that there was a celebratory atmosphere, without complaints and protests. Yesterday’s gathering marks the closing of a cycle that opened with the European elections of last June, when at the polls the ruling party saw its electoral strength diminish significantly. A period of internal party turmoil ensued, manifested in public statements critical of the government’s strategic choices and questions from government MPs, who appeared to press for a change in government policy. The culmination of this whole process was the removal of Antonis Samaras after the public questioning of the prime minister’s central choices in the exercise of foreign policy.

Yesterday acts as a milestone for the government to leave behind this period of introspection and trial and move forward with internal party calm and support assured. The fact that there were no meaningful absences from yesterday’s huddle, the cheerful mood that everyone conveyed, the absence of sharp statements, confirm that the atmosphere is different.

As reported by a partner of Mr. Mitsotakis, “the MPs showed satisfaction because from the measures announced by the prime minister they feel that they are part of the group, that they participate and influence the government’s decisions, that they are listened to”.

And this “team” spirit was strengthened by the fact that for the first time the Prime Minister met with all MPs at the same time, as in the past the option was to have more than one meeting with smaller groups of MPs, which in some cases caused dissatisfaction or and suspicion among themselves.

Mr. Mitsotakis he stated a few hours later (ERT) that he will announce his decisions for the Presidency of the Republic after mid-January. Thus, the holiday period is de-dramatized and disconnected from the difficult issue of the Presidential election, which cannot be excluded from causing new internal turmoil.

The prime minister will go today to Kalpaki in Ioannina and will speak at an event for the signing of the contract for the “Extension of Ionia Road – Ioannina – Kakkavia Section” project, which is given great importance by the government, as it will reduce the time for the distance from Ioannina to Kakkavia in 20 minutes from the current 95 minutes. Then Mr. Mitsotakis will go to Brussels for the work of the EU Summit. – of the Western Balkans and for the European Council Meeting that will follow tomorrow.