Mitsotakis says ND able to unite Greeks, end crisis

Presiding over his first party congress as New Democracy leader, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the conservatives could attract support from Greeks of all backgrounds and lead the country out of its economic crisis.

“We represent the large social and political majority that can pull Greece out of the vicious circle of the current decay,” Mitsotakis told the audience at the 10th party congress on Saturday, which included his father, and ex-New Democracy leader, Constantinos Mitsotakis. “I do not care what side people’s parents or grandparents fought in the civil war or which party’s youth movement they belonged to 20 or 30 years ago. Today, I am interested in what unites us.”

Mitsotakis also attacked ruling SYRIZA, accusing it of populism and telling lies. He said New Democracy under his leadership would be based on five principles: Growth, meritocracy, solidarity, excellence and trustworthiness.

“Our aim is to get Greece working again,” he said. “We want to leave the crisis and yesterday’s mistakes behind us. We want to start to build the Greece of 2021,” added the conservative leader in a reference to the upcoming 200-year anniversary of the Greek War of Independence, which began in 1821.

The congress was due to end on Sunday afternoon, with delegates electing the members of the party’s new political committee.