The Prime Minister will deliver a speech shortly as part of the presentation of projects that are being launched and completed in Thessaloniki.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, accompanied by numerous ministers and New Democracy officials, is in the capital of Macedonia ahead of the TIF, in order to coordinate government preparations.

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Earlier, the Prime Minister met with MPs from the first and second constituencies of Thessaloniki as well as New Democracy’s nationwide MPs. Among other things, they discussed the progress of major infrastructure projects in Thessaloniki. MPs who spoke stressed the need to avoid delays. According to information, it will be announced later today that the TIF will not be relocated from the city center to the western districts.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Political Committee Secretary Kostas Skrekas, and party officials. The focus of the discussion was on issues concerning Thessaloniki and preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit next week for the opening of the 89th TIF on Saturday, September 6th.

There was also discussion on the TIF measures, with MPs requesting support for families, and the Prime Minister signaling that he will move in that direction, without going into details, as these will be revealed in his speech the following Saturday.

Upon his arrival at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, the Prime Minister was welcomed by the Deputy Minister of the Interior (Macedonia and Thrace), Kostas Gioulekas. After the meeting, Mr. Mitsotakis will attend and speak at the event presenting Thessaloniki’s projects.

Arrival of Mitsotakis – Thessaloniki Concert Hall

As protothema.gr reported earlier, Mr. Mitsotakis wants to send the message that Northern Greece is, for the first time, so strongly in the government’s radar, as a series of critical projects are being launched. He must, of course, contend with the disappointment of many citizens in working-class areas of Thessaloniki and beyond, mainly due to the rising cost of living, as well as the penetration of parties to the right of the political spectrum in regions where New Democracy traditionally held strong. These include Kyriakos Velopoulos’ Elliniki Lysi (Greek Solution), which came close to becoming the second party by a few votes in some municipalities of Thessaloniki, as well as NIKI and Foni Logikis (Voice of Logic), the party of Thessaloniki native Afroditi Latinopoulou.

The day began at 10:00 with a meeting with New Democracy MPs from Thessaloniki’s first and second constituencies, as well as some nationwide MPs. Mr. Mitsotakis was also scheduled to meet with university rectors, in view of the implementation of the new stricter framework on campus security and “eternal students” at Greek universities. After the presentation of projects in Thessaloniki, meetings with the productive and scientific bodies of Northern Greece will follow.

Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis has already been in Thessaloniki since yesterday, and together with Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios, he met with mayors of Northern Greece. Also present were Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis and his deputy Nikos Papathanasis, Environment Minister Stavros Papastavrou, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis, Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki, Labor Minister Niki Kerameos, Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos, Infrastructure Minister Christos Dimas and Deputy Transport Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, and Deputy Sports Minister Giannis Vroutsis. Among the deputy ministers present were Nikos Tagaras (Environment), Lazaros Tsavdaridis (Development), Stavros Kalafatis (Research and Innovation), Kostas Gioulekas (Macedonia-Thrace), and Nikos Tachiakos (Infrastructure).

Mr. Mitsotakis is also accompanied by a series of staff members from the Prime Minister’s Office, including Akis Skertsos, Giorgos Mylonakis, Thanasis Kontogeorgis, Giorgos Efthymiou, and Michalis Bekiris, who is also responsible for the Prime Minister’s office in Thessaloniki. Already in the city since two days ago are Mr. Mitsotakis’ party adviser Thanasis Nezis, ND Secretary Kostas Skrekas, General Director Giannis Smyrlis, ND Press Spokeswoman Alexandra Sdoukou, along with the head of the party’s local governing body, Zisis Ioakeimovits.