With a “triangulation” strategy in the EPP – The Mitsotakis “recipe”.

With the term “triangulation” as a necessary strategy for the European Center-Right and with the “air” of one of the leaders who have strengthened the power of their party, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will go to Romania for the meeting of the European People’s Party on March 6-7. The Prime Minister therefore remains in the pre-election environment, which he has set up with his public interventions outside of Maximus, but this time against a European background. Besides, the Euro-election may be three months away, but the power game for high positions that will be “shared” post-election in a new setting with a five-year horizon is already evolving.

He will be at the summit dinner in Bucharest on Wednesday night and the next day he will address the plenary session of the conference, in which support for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a second term will be ratified. In a period of international instability and in particular concern about the far-right threat in Europe – an unstable factor that can overturn balances and developments – Mitsotakis advocates the importance of a “practical” Center-Right and the need for Center-Right messages to reach wider audiences. In his own words, “to focus on economic development, to be responsible patriots, to be progressive when it comes to issues where we need to align with how society itself is progressing.” He had formulated this phrase, speaking of “triangulation”, from Davos a month and a half ago, when he was discussing on the sidelines of the economic forum with von der Leyen. That quatrain happened after the Prime Minister had publicly denied scenarios that he was “weighing” any of the European offices.

Mitsotakis and Donald Tusk have already co-signed the support of the president of the European Commission. In the second reading, this means that the Greek and Polish prime ministers have acquired a role in the post-election “game” on behalf of the European Center-Right. During the two days, the aim is to present the “political values ​​and principles” of the European Center-Right family, from where Manfred Weber will present the “manifesto” of the EPP.

2,000 participants from 44 countries are expected at Romexpo and there will be three thematic panels with… Davos model, on security – defense, solidarity between generations and economy – jobs. Executives from the government (Stavros Papastavrou, Sofia Zacharakis, Konstantinos Kyranakis) and from the ND (Tassos Chatzivasileiou with coordinating duties, Maria Syregela, Yiannis Smyrlis, Orfeas Georgiou) will travel from Athens, as well as members of parliament (Anna Efthymiou, Konstantina Karabatsoli) , Gina Economou).

At the same time, Mitsotakis has put the neo-democratic apparatus on alert, giving the Euro-election the character of a “national ballot box” in an attempt to rally the audience that gave him the double victory in 2023. The main milestone of the ND towards June 9 is the party congress in Zappeion on the 5 -April 7, pending the announcement of its president (Dimitris Avramopoulos is being discussed) and the organizing committee.

Nominations are “locked”.

The formation of the election campaign committee, unexpectedly under the leadership of Yiannis Bratakos, is also pending. And while the European ballot will be presented in April, scouting and appointments are “running”. Party sources confirmed four new nominations: the president of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Local Self-Government of KEDE Michalis Angelopoulos, the president of the Panhellenic Medical Association Athanasios Exadaktilos, the deputy regional governor of Thessaloniki Voulas Patoulidou and the associate professor at Democritus Sotiris Serbous. In the same list, Evi Christofilopoulou, Pyrros Dimas, Vassilis Kontozamanis are considered to be locked, while persons with reference to the homogeneity on the other hand with strong foundations in the traditional blue base are considered.