On the course of the proceedings of the Metropolitan Park of Pavlos Mela, and in particular for the progress of the Metro Museum and the construction of the new Pavlos Mela Town Hall, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was informed during his visit to Western Thessaloniki.

The prime minister, accompanied by his party officials, Mayor Pavlos Mela Dimitris Aslanidis, the Regional Governor of Central Macedonia Athena Aidonas, the Metropolitan of Neapolis and Stavroupoli Varnava, toured the buildings under construction.

Mr. Mitsotakis’ reception was held at the A3 Stratonism Monument – where the Thessaloniki Museum of the Thessaloniki finds will be housed. This is a surface building of about 3,000 sq.m. Located in the “core” of the former camp, in the last years of the Turkish occupation, around 1895, being one of the first examples of organized camp on Greek territory.

In this museum, whose work is ongoing, with an completion time horizon in December 2025, part of the numerous findings that were revealed during the excavations for the construction of the Thessaloniki Metro will be exposed. It is a project integrated into the “Recovery Fund” with a budget of € 14.5 million and are expected to be placed in the area since August.

“We are doing this vision, at a rapid pace, there is a building of the former Pavlos Mela camp into a modern museum that will host the subway findings. At the same time, there will be a Museum of Refugee Hellenism and a new town hall, and the surroundings will be formed into a recreation area. This is worth the residents of western Thessaloniki. The purpose of our current visit is to deal with the issues exclusively of Western Thessaloniki, “the prime minister said.

“West Thessaloniki has every reason to feel unjust,” Mr Mitsotakis added, also referring to a visit he made a little earlier in the Meteora’s suburban forest, which will be sponsored by businessman Stavros Andreas.

“With the good of being again in the late year, early next year, for the inauguration of yet another important project for the wider metropolitan center of Thessaloniki,” Mitsotakis concluded.

“On behalf of the people of Western Thessaloniki thank you publicly for the first time to visit the historic site of the former camp of Paul Mela you adopted my vision as a Center for Culture and as a Museum of History of Thessaloniki. The struggle of our people to attribute the camp is being carried out with your own care, “said Varnavas, addressing the prime minister.

The Prime Minister at the new Pavlos Mela Town Hall

Immediately afterwards, Mr. Mitsotakis visited the adjacent A2 Army Building, which has been found preserved and in which work is being carried out to house the new Pavlos Mela Town Hall. It is estimated that it will open its gates in mid -2026, and in addition to being transferred to the Municipal Staff Services, the National Resistance Museum will also operate on the ground floor. The floor will be located on the floor to support the operation of cultural activities as well as to host municipal services.

Mr. Aslanidis said that “the Pavlos Mela Metropolitan Park is going towards its completion and we are glad that the prime minister visits a green, sustainable development and sustainability site that will be the trademark, the landmark of Western Thessaloniki and not only. It will be a memory and green space with routes, concerts and cultural routes. We hope to be completed in the summer of 2026 and inaugurate the Pavlos Mela Town Hall. “

Ms Aidona, for her part, added that “the Region of Central Macedonia has been particularly interested in the Metropolitan Park from the first moment. We promised that we would be close to all phases, which we did and contribute to the first phase of 20m euros. Our commitment is that we will not stop, we will continue to be close and the new NSRF has included the funding of the Museum of Refugee Hellenism with a € 7.7m funding. “

Speech at Eptalofou Square

The Prime Minister then spoke at a gathering of citizens at Eptalofos Square in Ampelokipi.

“We are in a very dangerous area with many crises, which have erupted at the same time, we do not have the luxury, as a country, of a new internal division, we do not have the luxury of returning to times we want to leave behind,” he said.

“I would like to remind you that in a few weeks from now, the black anniversary of the tragic referendum is completed, after the banks were closed, which almost drove our country out of the euro and possibly outside the European Union. We left these behind us. Greece’s opinion today counts, Greece is strong, with strong armed forces, with an economy that is constantly improving and with citizens becoming involved in the country’s economic progress. So let’s be patient until the Thessaloniki International Exhibition that we will be with you about the announcements for 2026, but until then do not forget something I had told you last year: that the economy is going well, the growth dividend will return to those who need it. “

In the slogan of the concentrated “You are and will be the Prime Minister”, Mr. Mitsotakis replied: “I think you give here the best answer to a period of very high intensity and toxicity, which I want to believe that he must finally be closed and finally closed.”

The protesters shouted “down the hands of Mitsotakis” and the prime minister replied: “Don’t worry I’m in good hands, as you can see, I’m in very good hands.”