Greek elections: “neighborhood” agenda among proposals to PM

The PM’s office insists on moving along the dichotomy “project report – planning of a new four-year period”, with Kyriakos Mitsotakis coming forward himself at every opportunity, on the one hand, to project what has been done, and on the other , to formulate electoral dilemmas and goals for the next term.

At a time when the case of phone tapping is taking a new turn, given that the government leaves open the possibility that there were “activities outside the framework” inside the National Intelligence Agency-EYP, referring to Justice for clarification, the prime minister’s office opens the… “neighborhood agenda”.

A phrase by Mitsotakis from western Athens, which is also his electoral district, testifies to the government’s anxiety about the political weight that hides – equally – both the “big” and the “small” issues that concern society. “To be able to talk about the big and the small issues” he said yesterday, during a meeting of a local organization in Haidari. “Some people may see the local problem as small, but for you it is very important,” he added, without making the slightest mention of the wiretapping case – as much as it was a day of revelations and political confrontation.

At the same time, his political opponents make sure that they are also… everywhere for direct discussions with social and professional groups, with the aim of deconstructing government manipulations.

In addition to the visits to neighborhoods of Attica and to towns and villages throughout the territory, which will continue until the time of the election contest by all the political leaders, Mitsotakis seeks signals of support in the ministries. What he wants with his participation in ministers’ events is to make an extensive report by thematic section.

After yesterday’s reports on the work of the Ministry of Labour, the Prime Minister was present today at the Metallurgeio venue for the ministry’s event on the program “Housing and work for the homeless”. And tomorrow he is expected to attend an event of the Ministry of Tourism on the impact of tourism on the economy.

Also, in the morning he was at the ceremony of handing over the structure of Eleonas to the Municipality of Athens, talking about “a huge area, almost 1000 hectares” which is given over to residents “to start a double reconstruction, which will simultaneously upgrade life in the center of the capital”. According to Mitsotakis, in Botanikos “we meet the tangible results of two policies that are unfolding in parallel: the right choices of the State in immigration and the bold planning for a better everyday life in the capital, but also in the entire western basin”.

Preparing for the Budget battle

At the same time, all the weight falls on the preparation for the Budget battle. Towards the end of the week, a meeting is planned at the PM’s ofice at Maximos Mansion, in order to “lock in” any “surprises”, with the first concern of the government staff being to give convincing answers to the accuracy but also to project the narrative of “social care”.