Although the New Democracy anniversary has rarely been a major event, unlike 3 September, which has been firmly established by PASOK, in recent years the party leadership has invested in the occasion as a tool for rallying and providing “a morale boost” to its party base. This was the case for ND’s 50th anniversary, which was celebrated in Rigillis, outside the party’s historic offices, to the sound of “Blue Generation” songs. “It smells of thyme and basil”, among others, will presumably also be heard this afternoon at the former OSY bus depot, where ND will celebrate its 52nd anniversary with a full-blown party event.

The party’s organisers estimate that the spacious venue will be filled with around 2,000-3,000 people. The number is neither particularly impressive nor insignificant. The celebration is being held on a weekday, during working hours, while ND is perhaps one of the few parties capable of effectively mobilising its organisation. Despite the festive atmosphere, it is no secret that there is a certain… chill within the party. It is not simply that the party is growing older and the anxieties of ageing come with it; elections are approaching, a difficult winter is beginning to loom, and internal cohesion is being tested through Antonis Samaras’s flanking attacks and Kostas Karamanlis’s conspicuous distancing, as he avoids attending virtually every possible party event.

The party anniversary will feature Kyriakos Mitsotakis as the keynote speaker, while ND organisers have prepared various happenings. Digitalised posters from the party’s campaigns and historic front pages from electoral victories and key moments in the party’s history will be displayed on screens, while other screens will feature a photographic exhibition documenting the party’s journey. There will also be interactive events, ranging from quizzes about ND’s history and basketball hoops to a specially designed booth where party supporters can have their photographs taken with the party’s emblems and insignia. It is no coincidence, after all, that the torch — officially adopted in the mid-1980s but unofficially the party emblem since the late 1970s — occupied a prominent position both in the main poster promoting the event that appeared on social media and in the anniversary video published on Sunday.

Exercises in rallying the base

The “key word” for ND on the road to the polls is “rallying”. Mr Mitsotakis knows that in 2027 it will be difficult to attract voters who did not vote for ND in 2019 or 2023, and is seeking the maximum possible mobilisation of the 41% that consistently supported the party in the most recent elections. The task is not easy, but the strategy is clear: whenever the opportunity arises, the Prime Minister will highlight the stark dilemmas that will become increasingly specific as the elections approach, while addressing both centrist and more right-leaning audiences and seeking maximum exposure for the government’s record, alongside the presentation of strategic priorities for a further mandate.

Careful observers will also note that Mr Mitsotakis has abandoned the rhetoric of a “third term” and now speaks of a “new mandate”, perhaps recognising the negative connotations of the former term. In any case, the Prime Minister is focusing these days on northern Greece: last Friday he “swept through” the difficult constituency of Pieria, where Greek Solution and NIKI together received 25% in the 2024 European elections, while on Thursday he will be in Halkidiki for the inauguration of the mining project at Skouries and may also make a brief stop elsewhere in the prefecture.

The absences

The picture is not entirely trouble-free, however. Over the weekend, Antonis Samaras twice launched attacks against the government, both on national and political issues, while he will speak on a wide range of issues at a conference organised by the newspaper To Vima. Kostas Karamanlis will also be absent, as he is away in Xanthi. The office of ND secretary Konstantinos Kyranakis contacted Mr Karamanlis’s office and conveyed the invitation, but judging from Mr Karamanlis’s stance at the Rigillis anniversary, he has opted to distance himself from such events. And not only that: on Wednesday, he will speak in Plaka about Greek-Chinese relations at an event organised by the Chinese Embassy, at a time when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be in Athens.

The other former ND president, Vangelis Meimarakis, will also be absent. He has, however, a more… consistent excuse, as he has specific commitments at the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg today and conveyed during a conversation that he would normally have attended if the event had been held on Sunday.

Measures for society

For Mr Mitsotakis, however, the main issue is policies that deliver results. Along these lines, the government has increased the subsidy for diesel fuel, in cooperation with the refineries, for the first half of October and will reassess the support framework in a few days, as announcements on the heating oil subsidy will be made on 14 October.

As Proto Thema has previously reported, the aim is for distribution to begin at a price of around €1.50-€1.60 per litre, which means a significant cost for the budget, alongside a substantial increase in the heating allowance. A critical factor, however, will also be support for industry ahead of winter. Mr Mitsotakis will make announcements on the use of European tools at tomorrow’s General Assembly of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), as a meeting was also held last week between the leadership of the Ministry of Environment, under Stavros Papastavrou, and SEV president Spyros Theodoropoulos and director-general Rania Aikaterinari on the issue.