Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis placed the need for a single-party parliamentary majority at the centre of his speech in Vrilissia, arguing that it was a political necessity for Greece amid international turbulence and challenges in the eastern Mediterranean. He also stressed the importance of enforcing the law, referring to the “big fish” in a passage concerning Pizza Fan, launched an attack on former prime minister Alexis Tsipras and criticised PASOK over its stance on an initiative concerning social media.

“At the next election, a single-party majority is the only political way forward. Not for our political camp, but for the country,” he said, linking the electoral contest to the need for political stability and experience in managing crises.

“We have issues in the eastern Mediterranean. We have issues in our wider region,” he noted, adding that “a government’s first duty is to keep the country safe. And today, Greece is safe”.

Pizza Fan: The ‘big fish’ and the message on law enforcement

The prime minister made particular reference to the enforcement of the law, using the phrase “big fish” in the section of his speech concerning Pizza Fan.

“These are the big fish. We are not interested in the small fish,” he said, arguing that the government had “both the ability and the will” to enforce the law and uphold legality everywhere.

Attack on Tsipras: ‘What kind of Greece did he leave us in 2019?’

Kyriakos Mitsotakis turned his fire on Alexis Tsipras over the former prime minister’s book.

“I was reading a book in which he was trying to convince us how good the Greece he handed over to us in 2019 was,” he said, before continuing: “What kind of Greece did he leave us in 2019? A Greece with 18% unemployment? A Greece whose islands were drowning in migrants?”

He argued that Greek society had moved forward and matured, rejecting a return to the political conditions of 2012 and 2015.

“We will never go back to those times, however much some people may wish it,” he said, adding that the country could now chart a course towards a Greece of 2030.

‘Some people thought we would see French-style unrest in our country’

At this point, Mitsotakis focused on demonstrations in France and other European countries.

“A few days ago, you saw large demonstrations across Europe. Unfortunately, you saw violence, clashes, unrest and shops being smashed. And perhaps some people here in our own country thought that what we had seen in other European capitals would happen here, in our own homeland.

“Instead, what did we see, my friends? We saw students and teachers demonstrating peacefully, expressing their concerns and worries. Because I know very well that whenever I speak to young people – and we have quite a few among us – they have every reason to be concerned.

“But we have not gone back, my friends, to the scenes of 2012 and 2015. Quite simply, the country has moved forward, Greek society has moved forward, and Greek society has matured. The commitment we are making together is that we will never return to those times, however much some people may wish it.”

He then attacked the Left, saying: “They had told us quite openly, after all, that normality creates problems for the Left. Normality is not an opportunity. The Left can survive and claim a political role only in times of turmoil. That will not happen again in our country, my friends.”

PASOK criticised over social media initiative

The prime minister also criticised PASOK over its position on an initiative to protect children from the dangers of social media.

He accused the opposition, and PASOK in particular, of choosing political confrontation with New Democracy and himself over cooperation on an issue affecting children’s mental health.

“They were unable to reach an understanding on an initiative concerning the greatest good of all: the mental health of our children,” he said.

Cost of living and pre-election handouts: ‘We will not distribute money we do not have’

On the economy, Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged the continuing pressure that high prices were placing on households, insisting that the government would continue providing support, particularly to those most in need.

He made clear, however, that a prolonged pre-election period would not lead to excessive public spending.

“I will never allow the temptation of a prolonged pre-election period to lead us to start handing out money we do not have,” he stressed, adding that such mistakes had been made in the past and must not be repeated.

Election message and New Democracy’s expansion

Addressing the crowd in Vrilissia, the prime minister commented on the turnout at the gathering, referring to the next election campaign.

“If we have this many people here several months before the election, imagine what it will be like when we are fully into the election campaign,” he said.

He recalled that New Democracy had surpassed 40% on three occasions during his time in office, insisting that the party must continue to broaden its appeal and renew itself, including by reaching out to first-time voters.

“I am no magician; I cannot perform miracles,” he told young voters, arguing that he had the same enthusiasm with which he began, but now had more experience.

“The best is still ahead of us,” he said, setting 2030 as the horizon for the government’s political agenda.