{"id":5944,"date":"2026-05-17T08:21:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T05:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/?p=5944"},"modified":"2026-05-17T08:21:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T05:21:00","slug":"mitsotakis-from-the-nd-conference-self-reliance-is-the-goal-everyone-should-sweat-the-jersey-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/?p=5944","title":{"rendered":"Mitsotakis from the ND Conference: self-reliance is the goal – Everyone “should sweat the jersey” (video)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The message that the New Republic<\/strong> is coming out of the 16th Synod ready to claim a third consecutive term in government is expected to send Kyriakos Mitsotakis, concluding the work of the party congress with his keynote speech today. <\/p>\n

The prevailing view in the government camp is that the battle for the next election requires total mobilization of all the cadres, with the prime minister insisting on the motto that “everyone should sweat the jersey.” The pursuit of independence<\/strong> raises the bar, while in the Maximou building they believe that the time until the 2027 polls leaves no room for complacency. <\/p>\n

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The Prime Minister has already laid out the framework for the next term, presenting the main axes of the government’s pre-election planning and setting as the main political dilemma “Mitsotakis or Androulakis or Tsipras or anyone else”. At the same time, he emphasized the unity<\/strong> of the party and the rallying of those who supported ND in the 2019 and 2023 elections. <\/p>\n

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The standout contributions at the conference<\/h2>\n

Dozens of executives took to the podium, presenting concerns, objections and proposals for the next day of the government and the party. The common denominator of most of the statements was the need to maintain the cohesion of the Southwestern Party ahead of the next elections. <\/p>\n

The speech of the Minister of Defence Nikos Dendias was particularly sensational.<\/strong> The Minister of Defence stressed. They expect us to change the country. Otherwise we risk being changed by them.” <\/p>\n

At the same time, he appeared concerned about the government’s poll picture, noting that “viewing the poll picture as the difference between second and third is not correct”, while he referred to “enclosed chancelleries of technocrats” and “mercenaries of power”. <\/p>\n

Elsewhere in his speech he stressed: “The European elections sounded a danger signal. We lost 55% of electoral power. Our votes fell from 2,407,000 to 1,125,000. One in two citizens who voted for us in May 2023 sent us a clear message. They asked for more. He asked for better. He asked for more effective.” <\/p>\n

In addition, he warned of the danger of “government institutionalism”, saying: “We are ready to acknowledge our weaknesses, our mistakes, our lapses. Especially those of us who serve in government positions. Incarceration is dangerous. It easily turns into ‘governmental institutionalism’.” <\/p>\n

Pierrakakis’ policy proposal and message of unity<\/h2>\n

The intervention of Kyriakos Pierrakakis<\/strong> was also special, who presented his own political agenda for the next decade, touching on issues of economy, energy, defence and foreign policy. <\/p>\n

The minister simultaneously sent a clear message against intra-party disputes, stating: “Society does not expect us to deal with ourselves. It is not interested in internal party whispers, it is not interested in narcissism and petty egos.” <\/p>\n

He continued: “Big factions don’t win when they are constantly looking in the mirror. They win when they look at the horizon of the country.” <\/p>\n

The “dialogue” between Hatzidakis and Georgiades<\/h2>\n

One of the highlights that was discussed most at the conference was the peculiar dialogue between the two vice-presidents of the Southwest, Kostis Hatzidakis<\/strong> and Adonis Georgiadis<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Hatzidakis called on the cadres to protect the party’s ethos, saying: “We should all protect the ethos of the party on a daily basis because New Democracy started before us. And it will continue after us. And it is this course of the party that requires us to be moderate, ethical, serious and responsible. <\/p>\n

For his part, the Health Minister responded with barbs against the logic of political catharsis. “I know that sometimes in our party there are also these views of “comme il faut”. Let’s not say it, let’s not miss a word too much, let’s not show that we may not have full civic civility. No, we will fight them,” said Adonis Georgiades<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

He added: “We will never bow our heads to bullying and we will never accept that the New Democrat and his dignity will be stepped on.” <\/p>\n

The symbolism of the “torch” by Pavlos Marinakis <\/h2>\n<\/h2>\n

The speech of government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis<\/strong> also had a strong party imprint, who chose to give special symbolism to the “torch” of the party, referring to an earlier reference by Kosta Karamanlis<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

“The torch is our common ideas. The torch is the anxieties of society. The torch is the we and not the I,” he said. <\/p>\n

He continued: “The torch is all those and all those who never asked for anything and when called upon by the party were present and present.” <\/p>\n

The government spokesman further stressed that: “Our torchbearer has taught us to fight for the needs of the society and when the battle comes, to put aside any bitterness, objections for the sake of the country.” <\/p>\n

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