By Dora Antoniou

Yesterday’s meeting cabinet it was a first-class opportunity for a brief assessment of the year that is coming to an end and a first analysis of the priorities for 2025. As the Prime Minister said, Kyriakos Mitsotakisreferring to the government’s priorities for the new year, “is a project program with specific timetables, which we are called upon today to approve, but above all to make it a reality”.

It was a clear message to the government ministers that they should run for the implementation of the actions that belong to each one so that they do not remain on paper. As a relevant government official points out, the Prime Minister’s exhortation also concerns the need to move quickly the procedures for a series of projects, the financing of which will come from the Recovery Fund, so that the funds are not lost. Planning the government’s work for 2025 will be completed at the first cabinet meeting of the new year on January 10.

Mr. Mitsotakis made sure to send a clear message to his ministers that this does not imply an extended festive period. With the government showing an image of even a small poll rise, in the prime minister’s staff they recognize that the battle of impressions is just as important as the substance of the production of government work.

“We, obviously, do not have the luxury of complacency. We know very well that responsibility does not go on vacation,” said the prime minister. And the message is not amenable to multiple interpretations, but it has a double meaning: on the one hand, government officials are asked to be ready for whatever may arise.

A government minister states that, for example, a severe worsening of weather conditions can cause a crisis scenario, so preparedness is required to deal with possible emergency situations that may arise during the holiday season, such as natural disasters and extreme weather events , that the market, which these days has increased traffic, should function smoothly, that there should be a mobilization to strengthen citizens’ sense of security both during transportation, as well as in their daily life.

On the other hand, as pointed out, there is a firm warning to government officials that they should avoid all kinds of excesses on vacations, trips, outings.

That is, to avoid anything that could be perceived as a challenge by the citizens, who in opinion polls state that they are having difficulty in their daily lives and are pessimistic about the prospects in the near future.

In this context, it was no coincidence that the prime minister pointed out to the members of the cabinet “to turn our gaze and attention to our fellow citizens who need it the most”.