Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told reporters he is "always ready" when asked about his upcoming keynote speech at the Thessaloniki International Fair, speaking at a relaxed evening event for journalists hosted by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis at the Electra Palace hotel.
Mitsotakis arrived just after 8:30 p.m. in casual dress, accompanied by several ministers. He was in good spirits, chatted with journalists and other guests, and posed for photographs with attendees.
This year's gathering drew a larger turnout than usual, coming at a moment when attention is fixed on the prime minister's speech the following day and the announcements he is expected to make there.
'Always ready' for the big speech
The question that dominated the informal exchanges between the prime minister and journalists was, naturally, about the day ahead. Asked directly, "Are you ready for tomorrow?", Mitsotakis smiled and replied that he is always ready, a brief but pointed answer that set the tone for how he is approaching the speech.
Question on school textbooks and Zacharaki
Mitsotakis was also asked about the controversy surrounding new elementary school textbooks and their references to same-sex couples, an issue that has reportedly caused friction even within his own ruling party in recent hours.
The prime minister avoided addressing the substance of the dispute. Instead, he pointed to his visit to Papanikolaou Hospital and the opening of its new haematology clinic, steering the conversation toward what he described as matters of far greater importance. He referred to comments made by a patient during his visit to the new haematology centre, a woman who had previously written to him about the serious health problem she was facing.
Journalists also pressed him on Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki, given the textbook controversy, asking whether there was some kind of problem. In a clearly humorous tone, Mitsotakis replied that of course there was no issue, joking that this was exactly why he had her by his side that evening and that the two had been together all day, a remark that drew smiles from those present.
The Thessaloniki International Fair, known in Greece as the DETH, is an annual trade exhibition that has become the traditional platform for the country's prime minister to deliver a major economic policy address, often compared to a state of the economy speech, making it one of the most closely watched events on the Greek political calendar.
The aces up his sleeve
Behind the relaxed atmosphere of the evening, attention remained fixed on the announcements expected the next day. Mitsotakis suggested there were "things that haven't been written yet", which are expected to concern specific social groups.
Government officials attach particular weight to the plan for the next four years, with the interventions set to be presented as costed measures accompanied by a specific month-by-month timetable.
The approach expected to be unveiled centres on a more detailed calendar for each social group individually, so that citizens know exactly what will change and when. Families with children, farmers, pensioners and other categories of citizens are said to be at the heart of this planning.
'Horizon': the message for tomorrow
The key word for the prime minister's speech is expected to be "horizon". The message the government wants to convey is not limited to immediate measures but extends to planning with a four-year horizon in view.
Emphasis is also expected to fall on the country's fiscal position, with the government argument being that improvements in fiscal indicators can now be reflected directly in citizens' wallets.
The political stakes of the day therefore go beyond the announcements delivered from the podium. The wager is to present a clear time horizon for the next four years, with interventions tailored separately to different social groups.
For now, Mitsotakis kept his cards close, offering only a taste of the aces that, by all indications, he is still holding up his sleeve.
