ND turning focus to security and freedom
New Democracy asked Wednesday for a parliamentary discussion on security issues in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Brussels and reflecting the conservative party’s concerns about the management of the refugee crisis in Greece.
“There is an urgent need to re-examine security in the new conditions the country is experiencing,” said New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “It is safe to assume that the EU’s agreements on the refugee crisis and the readmission of refugees [by Turkey from Greece] will encounter problems in their implementations.
“In these circumstances, the issue of security becomes paramount for Greek citizens and our country.”
The conservatives have ratcheted up the pressure on the coalition over its handling of the refugee situation. On Wednesday, New Democracy spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos accused it of allowing Greece to become a “third world country.”
The decision to ask for a debate on security is part of the conservatives’ decision to focus on the issues of security and freedom in the belief that this will attract voters concerned about the turn of events in Greece and the rest of the EU.
Mitsotakis visited the Belgian Embassy in Athens Wednesday to sign the book of condolences opened after the deadly attacks in Brussels.
“United, we sent a clear message: Terrorism, regardless of where it comes from, will not beat us,” the opposition leader wrote. “Europe will continue to serve the common values of security and freedom.”
