The curtain was raised on the opening of the 16th Ordinary Session of the New Democracy by the Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee Theodoros Roussopoulos.
During his speech, Mr. Rousopoulos sent clear political messages to the inside of the New Democracy, while at the same time he also took a swipe at the opposition, referring to “flares of sensationalism” that “are often fired by our opponents.”
Specifically, Mr. Rousopoulos began his speech by sending wishes for a speedy recovery to Giorgos Mylonakis, while he said that during the seven years of New Democracy’s seven-year rule, our country has gone a long way.
Then, the chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee stressed the importance of internal party cohesion and the ruling party’s resilience in the face of modern challenges. “Despite the difficulties, despite the crises, despite the international turbulence, the balance sheet of this course is positive. The country is constantly improving. From the economy to the strengthening of our international credibility, to the reforms, some of which have gone faster and others harder, Greece is making leaps forward. And yes, in political comparison with the past is of particular importance. Because only in this way do we understand how far we have come from an era of uncertainty, introversion and crisis of confidence“ said Rousopoulos.
He then noted that politics requires stamina, faith and a sense of responsibility towards the country, and made a special reference to the previous leaders of New Democracy. “This was the thread that connected the leaders of our party over time. From Constantine Karamanlis who called us to stand above and beyond misleading labels, to Georgios Rallis of democratic moderation, Evangelos Averof of the unity of the party, Constantine Mitsotakis of realpolitik, Miltiades Evert of social liberalism, Kostas Karamanlis of national self-confidence, Antonis Samaras of stability in difficult times and Kyriakos Mitsotakis of consistency of result and the country’s return to the modern European reality. One thread runs through our history, the responsibility towards the country. And this responsibility obliges us today to link our political identity to the great changes of the modern world. Whether it is security, the economy, education and artificial intelligence, the battle is and must be a constant one. Greece today is not the country that once doubted itself. It is a country that has rediscovered its voice, that has regained its international prestige, economic credibility and stronger position in the new era“ he noted.Rousopoulos.
At the same time, he spoke about Greece’s economic growth in recent years, stressing that this is not a coincidence. “We succeeded because our government worked hard. We succeeded because reforms as a conscious choice changed things that for years we thought impossible to change,” he said.
Referring to the proceedings of the conference, he said “we are not afraid of criticism when it is expressed out of genuine concern for the country, from whomever it comes“ and urged members of the conference “to let the words go free, to fill these three days of our conference with ideas, proposals and creative reflection. Not with sensationalist flares like those often fired by our opponents and which quickly fade away, but with discourse that has content, duration and responsibility. Because words, when they carry truth and responsibility, stand the test of time“.”
The chapter of internal party stability was particularly emphasized, with Mr. Roussopoulos sending a clear message to all wings of the congress. “Unity is not a congress slogan, it is a prerequisite for national stability and political victory. Greece needs stability out of conviction and clear orientation. And we will take up this responsibility again“, he said.
At the same time, he pointed out that the New Democracy party is moving “on the road to another vindication with Kyriakos Mitsotakis as Prime Minister. And this is not just a party slogan. It is a conscious choice that in difficult times the country needs people who can keep a steady hand on the wheel of governance“ and concluded: “Kyriakos Mitsotakis, when needed, did not hesitate to acknowledge mistakes that inevitably occur during a long governance. But he demonstrated something essential. That in politics he was not a spectator. He took responsibility, made decisions, clashed when necessary. And he kept the country standing in difficult times. Because politics is not a place for spectators. It is a space of responsibility.”
He concluded his statement by wanting to boost the morale of the delegates and the cadres, referring to the historical journey and the size of the party. “Great factions do not tire when things get tough. That’s when they prove that they are big,”, he concluded, setting the tone for the political readiness of the New Democracy in the face of the demands of the situation.
