Mitsotakis starts building new, balanced team
Kyriakos Mitsotakis is due to speak to New Demcoracy’s MPs for the first time Thursday after taking over as leader on Monday and starting to make key appointments that indicate he intends to keep a balance between the party’s factions.
Mitsotakis, who met Wednesday with his sister Dora Bakoyannis and Central Macedonia Governor Apostolos Tzitzikostas, is due to address New Democracy’s parliamentary group at 2 p.m. Thursday.
On Wednesday he showed his intention to ensure that there is a broad range of conservative officials in key positions. MP Giorgos Koumoutsakos was appointed party spokesman. Koumoutsakos held the same position briefly in 2009.
Cretan lawmaker Lefteris Avgenakis is set to take over from Andreas Papamimikos as party secretary when the latter’s tenure ends. He will have the key role of boosting the party’s appeal, while also tackling its poor finances. Some New Democracy staff have not been paid in months and it is thought Mitsotakis may have to announce personnel cuts and a move away from the offices the party currently leases.
Mitsotakis also proposed on Wednesday experienced former minister Nikos Dendias, another ex-minister Yiannis Vroutsis, and MP Niki Kerameos as the party’s parliamentary representatives. Vroutsis held this position under the two previous leaders, while Kerameos is a newcomer, having been elected on the party’s state list in September.
