Kyriakos Mitsotakis, right, and his wife Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis at the presidential palace on Monday. AFP
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, right, and his wife Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis at the presidential palace on Monday. AFP
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, right, and his wife Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis at the presidential palace on Monday. AFP
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, right, and his wife Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis at the presidential palace on Monday. AFP

Greek Prime Minister promises 'big reforms' after election landslide


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis promised "big reforms" on Monday as he began a new four-year term following a resounding election win.

Mr Mitsotakis guided Greece's conservative New Democracy party to its biggest win in years after campaigning on an economic turnaround from the 2010s financial crisis.

It was the second election in weeks after a May vote showed strong support for Mr Mitsotakis but left him short of a majority.

After gaining a majority on Sunday, he was formally sworn in for another term by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

Mr Mitsotakis said his government would "put in place major changes" during his second term, having promised to invest in healthcare and improve railway safety after a collision in February killed 57 people.

He has also pledged to to push ahead with reforms to rebuild Greece's credit rating after the debt crisis, and to boost revenue from the vital tourism industry.

"We will begin working hard for big reforms," he told the president after re-assuming power.

Supporters of the New Democracy party celebrate on election night in Athens. EPA
Supporters of the New Democracy party celebrate on election night in Athens. EPA

Harvard-educated Mr Mitsotakis declined to form a government after May's election, instead gambling that he could win a majority in a re-run once a new voting system took effect.

The gamble paid off, as New Democracy took 158 seats in the 300-member parliament, with left-wing Syriza far behind on 48.

Mr Mitsotakis remains popular despite the rail disaster and a wiretapping scandal involving senior politicians and journalists.

Syriza's leader, former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, conceded a "serious political defeat" and said he would leave his future in the hands of party members.

It was also a good night for several small far-right parties that won enough votes to enter parliament, including a party backed by a jailed former neo-Nazi activist.

Mr Mitsotakis said he believed Greece's democracy "mature enough to handle whatever temporary turbulence" might ensue. He is due to unveil his cabinet later on Monday.

RESULTS

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Tathoor, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: Aiz Alawda, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohammed Daggash
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
Winner: Somoud, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Al Jazi, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Favourite things

Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery

Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount

University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China

Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai

Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China

Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs

Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ECBDC%20real-value%20pilot%20held%20with%20three%20partner%20institutions%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPreparing%20buy%20now%2C%20pay%20later%20regulations%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPreparing%20for%20the%202023%20launch%20of%20the%20domestic%20card%20initiative%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPhase%20one%20of%20the%20Financial%20Infrastructure%20Transformation%20(FiT)%20completed%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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SERIES SCHEDULE

First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6

The biog:

From: Wimbledon, London, UK

Education: Medical doctor

Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures 

Favourite animals: All of them 

LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

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Rebel%20Moon%20-%20Part%20One%3A%20A%20Child%20of%20Fire
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Updated: June 26, 2023, 12:00 PM`