The stakes of elections was set by PM Antonis Samaras, during his speech at the celebratory announcement and presentation of candidates of MEPs of the New Democracy party.

The PM stated that the fact at stake is how Greece will be represented in Europe, and as he stated: “Do we want those who are questioning the country’s presence in the EU, those who are fighting against our stay in the euro, do we want our representatives to be those who will lead us into new problems, those who will tear apart memoranda and challenge all reforms? Do we seek new memoranda because some people are becoming richer through them? No, we want to get out of the memoranda. We want Greece to remain stable, or we would let the country be carried away in the whirlwind of destabilization. I hear some people who state that they want Greece out of NATO. Are they even aware of what they are saying? The stakes of European elections is not about the party, it’s about the future of Greece, its children”.

Continuing, he mentioned the recent successes of the government. “This year is the year of recovery, we have turned the ship of the economy around, stability must be preserved, our sacrifices have worked and some do whatever is in their power so that they don’t. We will not let them turn us around. Unemployment is already being lessened, and we have debt sustainability ahead of us”.

“The things we signify in this critical battle, with whom we signify it, and who will represent us will be decided by the country’s electorate. It is a great initiative by the government that all parties seeking more democracy have supported. The only people against us are those who want political life to be closed within itself and be controlled by third parties and underground connections. We are in a constant battle against populism, but we will not be talking petty politics”, he stated.

“Today, I will talk about as to where Greece is and where it is heading. The command that the Greek people gave us in 2012 was to keep the country in the euro and take it out of the crisis; to open the way for a stable, long-term development and restore injustice. We prevented the exit from the eurozone, we achieved a surplus, we returned to markets. Today, the issue of three-month interest bonds  dropped to 2.45% when it was at 3.1% just a few days ago”, stated the prime minister, reiterating that our sacrifices have gone a long way to improve things and that “the doomsayers, embarrassed when faced by the country’s achievements, have nothing to say, because it’s all over now”.

“Some people will have no reason to exist if they cannot speak out against memoranda. We want to leave the memoranda behind us once and for all”, he added, stating that “we must preserve the stability we achieved. It hurt us as Greeks, but we will now leave all this behind”.

It is a unifying, refreshed ballot, stated the PM and noted that there are people that are added in ND’s ballot for the first time.

In closing, he stated that during the run-up to EU elections, they will be talking about what the doomsayers cannot. What the upholders of misery cannot touch; namely big reforms, growth and all that we are building together.

New Democracy MEP candidates’ names

Giorgos Amyras, journalist,
George Anestis, SG of PASEGES
Anastasios Vasiliadis
Vozenmperg Eliza lawyer
Giannopapa Katrivanou Christina , mechanical engineer
Davetas Demosthenes, poet, writer and painter
Lefteris Demetriou , agronomist
Dimoshakis Anastasios , former leader of the Greek Police
Theodoros Zagorakis , international footballer and captain of the team that won Euro 2004
Zafiropoulos Gregory , lawyer, former mayor of Halandri
Kalantzakou Tsatsaroni Joanna lawyer
Karageorgiou Dimitrios chemist
Karakostanoglou Benjamin , professor of international relations at the AUTH
Karaleftheris Pantelis , foreman electrician in PPC
Karantais Iliad of Faik , teacher of Turkish and English
Kefalogiannis Manolis , MP and former minister
Korkidis Claus , president of the Commercial Club
Rodi Kratsa MEP
Kimparidis George , merchant
Kyranakis Constantine , president of the youth of EPP
Kyrtzos George , journalist and publisher
George Kotsiras , lawyer
Lioutas Athanasios farmer, agronomist
Manolis Mavrommatis , former journalist MEP
Momferatos George , financial planner son of slain Nikos Momferatou
Mouzala Elena , pianist and piano teacher
Mousouroulis Kostis , MP and former Minister of Shipping
Xarhakos Stavros , composer
Panagiotopoulou Penelope educator
Pepa Nikos, the Paralympic medalist
Bitter Moraitaki Freedom , Investment Adviser
Ragiou Natasha , former journalist MP
Zoi Rapti , lawyer
Spyraki Maria journalist
Nicholas Stergiou , farmer
Christodoulos Stefanadis , professor of cardiology
Tassios Gregory , innkeeper
Tzavela win MEP
Konstantopoulou Fotini Tomai , archaeologist stylist
Chalilopoulou Christina
Maria Chatzinasiou board member of the Athens Festival
Cholevas Constantine , editor of the journal “Ecclesia”