The ND party’s sixth and final pre-conference is taking place today in Thessaloniki, a week before the party’s conference at the Metropolitan Expo, which is seen as a key event for the start of the informal election period.
Although the original plan called for the proceedings to begin in Thessaloniki, the curtain finally falls at Pavilion 10 of the DETH. Let’s not forget that for the ruling party, the pre-conferences functioned mainly as a mechanism to activate the party base and contact with local organisations.
Today’s (9/5) focus will be on national issues and the country’s defense strategy. Specifically, Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to emphasize Greece’s international alliances, the strengthening of its deterrent power and moves he will argue strengthen the country’s position in the region.
The prime minister is expected to refer to the renewal of the Greek-French defense agreement, arms programs, and the Agenda 2030 for the Armed Forces. At the same time, it will also attempt to respond to the pressures that the government is under from the right, especially in Northern Greece, where parties such as Hellenic Solution, NIKI and the Afroditis Latinoopoulou are being strengthened.
Thessaloniki is a crucial political field for New Democracy. Despite the high 2023 national polling figures, the picture in Thessaloniki’s first district has troubled the ruling party, which wants to regain strength in the region. In the Maximou building, they believe that the major projects that are progressing in the capital city can serve as a political argument against attrition.
Of particular interest is the ministerial panel, which includes Nikos Dendias, Giorgos Gerapetritis and Stavros Papastavrou, while the EU Transport Commissioner will also intervene.Ε., Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
The eyes are mainly on the defence minister and whether he will choose to respond to the barbs left in recent days by Adonis Georgiades. Recall that the health minister, after the parliamentary group meeting, told SKAI 100.3 that there are ministers who “are in an airplane and spin the universe”.
Of course, Nikos Dendias has not publicly responded at this time. However, his associates point out that his trip to Portugal was planned long ago with a clear national character. They also recall that the meeting of the Parliamentary Group was originally set for 30 April.
In his statement, the Secretary of Defense is expected to outline the next steps for Armed Forces and the implementation of the Agenda 2030. However, it is not excluded that there will be indirect references to the internal party climate that has developed in recent days.
Even if there is no answer today, the government camp considers it certain that Nikos Dendias’s speech at next week’s conference will be of particular political importance as it will reflect his personal stamp within New Democracy.
