“Did we do everything perfectly? Obviously not. There is still much to be done and corrected,” stated Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his customary weekly message on Sunday, July 6, marking the upcoming sixth anniversary of New Democracy’s assumption of government in July 2019.
Reflecting on the past six years, Mitsotakis acknowledged mistakes, delays, and missteps in handling various issues, taking political responsibility particularly for failures to timely address systemic problems, such as that of the scandal involving extensive fraud in the unlawful disbursement of Community subsidies to purported ‘farmers’ by the Agricultural Payments Organization (OPEKEPE).
He emphasized the need for a stronger commitment to a culture of responsibility and adherence to legality, moving away from clientelist practices and outdated political habits. According to the prime minister, efforts to instill this new approach are ongoing and resolute.
Mitsotakis conveyed a message of perseverance, affirming the government’s intention to continue working through the current term with the conviction that Greece can improve further. Ultimately, he stressed, the citizens will be the ones to judge their performance.
The prime minister highlighted key achievements during New Democracy’s tenure, noting that despite unprecedented crises, the government maintained its core goal of making Greece stronger, fairer, and more modern.
Unemployment has reached its lowest level since 2008, economic growth has outpaced the Eurozone average, and foreign investment has hit record highs.
Strengthening the national health system, digitizing the judiciary, reforming public administration, speeding up pension awards, protecting workers through digital labor cards, and supporting youth with a comprehensive housing policy of 43 initiatives were among the milestones cited.
Progress has also been made in critical sectors such as education, transportation, defense, and civil protection.
Nevertheless, the prime minister admitted that perfection had not been achieved, acknowledging that many challenges remain to be tackled and improvements made.
