Live the pre-conference of New Democracy in Thessaloniki with Kyriakos Mitsotakis as speaker
In the presence of the Prime Minister and President of the New Democracy, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the 6th pre-conference of the New Democracy is being held today in Thessaloniki …
News Room
9 May 2026
In the presence of the Prime Minister and President of the New Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the 6th pre-conference of the party is being held today in Thessaloniki.
The proceedings are being hosted at the International Exhibition Centre of the TIF – Helexpo, at Pavilion 10, where MPs, executives of local organisations, members of the central administration and representatives of the UNNED have gathered.
The pre-conference has as its main theme “Strong Greece”, with the discussion focusing on the government’s political priorities, regional development and issues concerning Northern Greece. The focus is also on the interventions being promoted in terms of infrastructure, economy and everyday life.
The event is attended by the deputies of the regions of Central Macedonia and Western Macedonia, together with members of the respective party organizations. Members of the party’s youth are also present, with the UNNED giving a dynamic “presence” in the proceedings.
The pre-conference proceedings are expected to conclude with a speech by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is expected to refer to the government’s priorities for the next period, but also to the messages that the New Democracy wants to send in view of the next political developments.
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias and Environment and Energy Minister Stavrou Papastavrou will speak at the first part of the pre-synod. This will be followed by a speech by European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikosta.
The pre-conference will conclude with a speech by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The Thessaloniki pre-conference will conclude the pre-conference proceedings on the way to the 16th Ordinary Congress of New Democracy, which will take place from 15-17 May in Athens.
Mitsotakis: Western Thessaloniki is being transformed from an appendage to a place with dynamic development
“The western side of Thessaloniki is being transformed from an appendage of the city, from the poor relative of metropolitan Thessaloniki, to a place with dynamic development but also with very important infrastructure, is a conscious political choice that this government is making,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed during his speech at the inauguration ceremony of the “Thessaloniki Metropolis” Museum in the Pavlou Melas Metropolitan Park, which houses findings of the Metro excavations.
M Mitsotakis noted that in a few weeks he will come back to the same place for the inauguration of the Pavlos Mela Metropolitan Park, which will also house the Museum of Refugee Hellenism and the Museum of National Resistance and noted: “With the Metropolitan Park we are shaping, here in western Thessaloniki, as we had committed to, a true urban and cultural oasis for its hundreds of thousands of residents. A walk in nature but also a useful journey in our collective memory.”
And he added that “We are creating a unique core of culture and recreation here in western Thessaloniki, but also a pole of attraction for visitors from all over the city and Macedonia. We are bringing to the forefront areas that for decades have remained out of the central government’s field of vision, even though they have all the conditions to develop economically, but, above all, demographically, we are talking about the youngest population in the country. It is a decision of the government with a clear social focus.”
Mitsotakis said it is “non-negotiable” his personal commitment to move forward with the studies for the extension of the metro in western Thessaloniki.
He also referred to other projects concerning Western Thessaloniki, which have been launched or have progressed to a significant extent and will be completed, such as the Holocaust Museum, the redevelopment of FIX, the Fly over, the hospitals – pediatric and oncological, the construction of schools, etc.
