Just two days prior to the New Democracy (ND) leadership elections, conservative main opposition leadership candidate Vangelis Meimarakis wrote an open letter to members and friends of the party.

He writes:

Greek men and women,

New Democracy men and women,

On December 20, the New Democracy party will elect its new leader. I submit my candidacy and invite you all of you who believe in the principles and values on which our party was established by (late statesman and ND founder) Constantine Karamanlis to attend this democratic process with willingness, co-responsibility and decisiveness.

In this decisive political and national, critical juncture, our country and democracy need a modern, dynamic and creative opposition. For this reason, I seek your trust and ask for your support to have the chance to strengthen and unite New Democracy, by:

– reinforcing its parliamentary aggression over the coming period that is crucial for the country;

– modernizing its organizational model according to the contemporary European prototypes, with a renewal of faces, ideas and behavior, giving equal opportunity for all;

– creating a convincing, alternative government proposal;

– expressing a new dynamic but a responsible, reformatory but also popular, political word that will include the ideological principles of radical liberalization, so that it can define in a lucid way the medium route of moderation and efficiency, far from extreme (views).

My goal is for the New Democracy of the future, with your active participation, to morph into a modern, vibrant, collective party that will once again inspire the majority of citizens. To give prospects of unity and activate all those who believe in the principles, values and vision of Greece.

My goal is to replace social alliances of the faction that were tried over the recent crisis and to forge new ones, making the party grow again.

To instigate social justice that was wounded by numbing policies.

To activate all healthy and creative forces of the Greek market and workforce.

To mobilize people of intellect, science, art and creativity so that we could all lift Greece high.

To overturn inaccurate, unfair, thoughtless and numbing policies of the Radical Left coalition (SYRIZA) government.

To create a majority trend that would reinforce our efforts to support society, economic growth and the restoration of Greece.

Dear friends,

You know who I am, you know my track record…

From my young years as President of ONNED (New Democracy Youth) until today, in different roles every time, but with consistency and an air of responsibility, as Secretary of the party at a time of restoration, as Defence Minister and as Parliamentary President in the most turbulent post-war period I proved that I think, act and can succeed for the faction and for my country, speaking always the language of truth.

Our country needs public ethos and our society a new developmental ideal, another political vision.

On December 20, I ask for your support so that exploiting my experience and knowledge from previous years, I can restore to the faction all that I owe it. With principles and values that we served and we will all serve together united I will do all that passes through my hands so that New Democracy can soon become a large party and so that it can soon become the government that will lead Greece and Greeks to a better tomorrow.

I wholeheartedly wish all of you and each of you separately a Merry Christmas, an optimistic and hopeful year with solidarity, love and health.

With trust in your judgment and your pure and selfless love towards the motherland,

Vangelis Meimarakis