Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis praised the public’s unity during the October 28th national celebrations, describing the parades as “impressive” and calling them “the best response” to what he termed political toxicity and pessimism.

Speaking via teleconference at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, as he recovers from COVID-19, Mitsotakis said that citizens had “turned their backs on the toxicity and misery promoted by some,” highlighting the positive atmosphere across Greece during the commemorations of the country’s resistance in 1940.

Government Priorities and New Legislation

The Prime Minister shifted focus to upcoming government initiatives aimed at improving everyday life. He announced two new bills—one to further reduce bureaucracy and another to integrate the country’s main agricultural payments agency, OPEKEPE, into the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).

Mitsotakis said the reform would “end chronic dysfunction” and bring transparency to the distribution of European agricultural funds. The move follows an investigation that uncovered financial irregularities and led to several indictments and pre-trial detentions.

He noted that despite some delays, the government had begun issuing compensation payments to farmers and livestock breeders affected by last year’s floods and feed-price hikes, totaling €45 million to nearly 40,000 recipients.

Reflecting on the Fire Season

Turning to this year’s wildfires, Mitsotakis said 2025 had been one of the most destructive years for the Mediterranean as a whole, with burned land across the EU tripling the two-decade average. Greece, however, limited losses to about 477,000 acres—below the European mean—thanks to faster detection and containment efforts.

Road Safety Progress

The Prime Minister also highlighted a steep decline in traffic fatalities during the October 28th holiday weekend, with deaths dropping to less than half of last year’s total. He attributed the progress to better enforcement and the updated Highway Code.

Symbolism and Optimism

Mitsotakis closed his remarks by reflecting on the symbolic images of schoolchildren marching in heavy rain during the parades. Their determination, he said, should inspire the government’s own persistence: “Despite the storms, we know the goal we must reach—and nothing will divert us from our course.”