“I support unreservedly, clearly, without any asterisk, the candidacy of Kostas Agorastos, to continue the work that has begun for two terms,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said tonight from Larissa, which he visited in order to support the candidacy of Regional Governor Kostas Agorastos.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke at a gathering of citizens, in which the newly elected Mayor of Larissa Th. Mamakos, while the event was also attended by members of parliament and the executives of the New Democracy, as well as the candidate for Regional Governor El. Tzanakouli, who announced her support for Mr. Agorastos.
The Prime Minister referred to the bad weather that hit Thessaly, referred to unprecedented phenomena, and said that to date more than 65 million euros have been disbursed to more than 14,000 beneficiaries “who saw their property, their homes, their production, their businesses destroyed by the flood”.
Mitsotakis stressed that the government has moved at a faster pace than those of “Janos”, noting that the process of state assistance has been accelerated and clarified that every citizen who is entitled to support will receive it from the Greek state.
“It is my personal commitment to be able to rebuild together all that was lost during the very difficult days of this unprecedented flood,” Mitsotakis said.
The Prime Minister pointed out that he managed to secure more than 600 million euros from the Recovery Fund, which will be redirected to better rebuild all the infrastructure that was destroyed.
“Just as we built the mountain network of Argithea and it basically withstood the natural disaster and the bridges we built withstood it, just as many of the important projects that were done after “Janus” withstood it, so we will rebuild our road networks, we will rebuild our bridges, we will rebuild our trains. We will rebuild them with other rules of resilience, because we have to be ready now, we have to be ready for the climate crisis, which is already here,” the Prime Minister said.
He also stressed that in Thessaly and in the Region many things were done that sometimes were not recognized, he expressed his understanding for the anger after a major disaster, which may be beyond the capabilities of all of us, but as he said “but I do not want, friends, a moment, a natural disaster, to cancel a very important work that the Region has done all the past years. It would be unfair if that were to happen.”.
Finally, Mitsotakis pointed out that it is of great importance that the next day the government can cooperate with Regional Governors and Mayors who share its development vision, but as he said “our duty is to cooperate with everyone, this is what our institutional role requires. But we have a clear political preference. We did not hide it, we did not hide in the difficult times.
For his part, Kostas Agorastos noted among others:
“Sunday is another day for Thessaly. A day of creation, with the plan, the programme we have for every person, for every Thessalian and for every Thessalian. For the pupil, the student, the farmer, the breeder, the fisherman, the fisherman, the beekeeper, the health worker. For better health, for culture, for culture, for sport, for all together, without discrimination, without exclusion.
The greeting of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis:
«Mr. Regional Governor, Mr. Mayor, friends, first of all I want you to give a very warm round of applause to the very big winner of the first Sunday, your new Mayor. And another big round of applause for the big winner of next Sunday, your Regional Governor, Kostas Agorastos.
I wanted, friends, to meet with you today, a few hours before the formal end of the electoral period for the second round of the regional elections, and to share with you a few thoughts on the great importance of this electoral battle ahead of us.
I want to tell you that I unreservedly, unequivocally, without any asterisk, support the candidacy of Kostas Agorastos, to continue the work that he has started for two terms.
Friends, I want you to know that our government has been close to Thessaly from the very first moment of the great natural disaster that hit your country. To date, we have disbursed more than 65 million euros to more than 14,000 beneficiaries of your fellow citizens who saw their property, their homes, their production, their businesses destroyed by the flood. I know that this project has not been completed, and coming here today I met our fellow citizens, your fellow citizens, who said to me: “When will I get the money?.
I want you to know that we have moved at a much faster pace than Janos, we have accelerated the process of state assistance and every citizen who is entitled to support will receive it from the Greek state. It is my personal commitment so that we can rebuild together all that was lost in the very difficult days of this unprecedented flood. You are well aware that the government team has been in Thessaly from the very first moment.
We have had to face unprecedented and unprecedented situations. But we have moved forward step by step, methodically, with a plan, without grand words, and things are already beginning to fall into place. Whether we are talking about the primary sector - where, as you know, prices have been announced for cotton too, which I believe have exceeded your expectations, and this was one of my personal commitments to support the primary sector - or whether we are talking about compensation for our farmers, our beekeepers, support for fishermen. We will be close to each and every one of those affected by this unprecedented natural disaster.
And I want you to know something else, friends. A few days after “Daniel” hit us, I was in Brussels and I asked for the help of the European Union and we managed and we achieved something very important: we managed to redirect more than 600 million euros from the Recovery Fund to rebuild all the infrastructures that were destroyed and to rebuild them better, not just to rebuild them.
Just as we built the mountain network of Argithea and it basically withstood the natural disaster and the bridges we built withstood it, just as many of the important projects that were done after “Janus” withstood it, so we will rebuild our road networks, we will rebuild our bridges, we will rebuild our trains. We will rebuild them with other rules of resilience, because we have to be ready now, we have to be ready for the climate crisis, which is already here.
I know that many things have happened here in Thessaly and in the Region. Many things have been done that have sometimes gone unrecognised, because I fully understand the anger after a major disaster, which may be beyond the capabilities of all of us.
But I do not want, friends, a moment, a natural disaster, to cancel a very important work that the Region has done over the past years. It would be unfair if that were to happen.
Because a lot of work has been done - and you know it - and we have worked together with Kostas to design the development plan for the next four years for us, for the next five years for the Region.
Thessaly really deserves to be able to become the growth engine of the country. We have already taken many steps. I am walking around today, I see a market full of people, I see smiling faces despite the difficulties of poverty. All this is happening because, ladies and gentlemen, the economy is growing, and along with the growth of the economy, Larissa is growing, and Thessaly is growing. And this ultimately means a better future for each and every one of us individually.
It is of great importance in the next day to be able to work with Regional Governors and Mayors who share our development vision. It is our duty to work with everyone, as our institutional role demands. But we have a clear political preference. We have not hidden it, we have not hidden in the difficult times.
We are here to support Kostas Agorastos to win this battle and the next day we can continue this very good cooperation that we have had so far.
Last Sunday, friends, citizens sent a political message. At all the polls, throughout the country, they reaffirmed their confidence in our great party, in New Democracy, despite the difficulties of the summer, the great difficulties.
We remain committed to our work, to our reform agenda, to improving the daily lives of each and every individual, but we need partners. We want partners who are worthy regional governors, we want partners who are worthy mayors.
And I am sure that this duo that we see here today will be the duo that will lead Thessaly and Larissa from 1 January, with the Mayor and Kostas will be able to continue his work.
So I want to ask you to put aside any bitterness - there can always be bitterness - any sorrows of the moment. I know, I've been in politics long enough to know that local elections always inflame passions, but let's look and stay focused on the big goal.
And the big goal is how we as a government will have the best possible partners to implement the ambitious recovery plan we have for Thessaly.
Already, ten days after the disaster, I have asked a leading foreign company to come and do a full survey of the irrigation network and the needs of Thessaly in terms of major flood control projects. And it is my commitment, friends, that we will create a model water management organisation for Thessaly, so that we do not flood one day and lack water the next.
With the cooperation of the Region, we will launch major projects, we will use the best experts in the world to do what has not been done for so many years. For decades we have been talking about the waters of Thessaly. It is time to solve the problem and, as you know, friends, when I set a goal, I have a “bad” habit of achieving it. We will solve this problem too.
So, in closing, I want to ask you to make this effort in all four Regional Units.
I know very well that no race is decided until the last vote is counted. On Sunday night, I want Kostas and his team to continue the work they have started. I am confident that we will achieve this goal and that we will all go strong together for the Thessaly you deserve.
In Larissa we already achieved the goal. Again, congratulations to the new Mayor, we will do great things together.
Be well, good strength and with victory».
In his address, the Regional Governor of Thessaly and re-candidate, Kostas Agorastos, said:
«President, Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, we welcome you once again to Larissa, to Thessaly, and we thank you for your love and practical concern for every Thessalian and every Thessalian.
Sunday is another day for Thessaly. A day of creation, with the plan, the programme we have for every person, for every Thessalian and for every Thessalian. For the pupil, the student, the farmer, the breeder, the fisherman, the fisherman, the beekeeper, the health worker. For better health, for culture, for culture, for sport, for all together, without discrimination, without exclusion.
We are here, we exist for each of you and for all of you together, and I thank Kyriakos Mitsotakis, our Prime Minister, for his great practical interest in Thessaly.
I ask for your support, I ask that we go even higher, together, united, with everyone and for everyone, Thessaly. Let's go forward together, strong on Sunday, strong. Thank you very much.».
«The day after tomorrow we have another battle, which will be a victory for all Thessalians and we should all support the struggle of Kostas Agorastos,» noted the newly elected Mayor of Larissa Thanasis Mamakos.
