Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a personal commitment to provide further financial support to the fishing sector during a meeting with fishermen’s representatives in Arnaia, Chalkidiki. The fishermen have staged strong protests over rising costs. At the same meeting, he also outlined the government’s political and diplomatic priorities.

Addressing the fishermen’s representatives, Mitsotakis acknowledged the pressure on the primary sector and stressed the state’s willingness to step in. “We will use every option available to help you in a meaningful way, financially, so that you can keep doing what you do on competitive terms,” the prime minister said. He added: “We are in a period of major financial pressure for all sectors, but I fully acknowledge that the fishing sector deserves more support from the state. We have already made some announcements, and we will see what more we can do. I will deal with the issue personally. I would like to believe that very soon, within the next few days, we will be able to be more specific.”

Mitsotakis highlighted the sector’s contribution to the country’s productive base, noting: “You should know that we will do the best we can, and we mean it. You know I don’t make promises lightly. When I say something, I really mean it.”

Referring to the results of his talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the prime minister said the contacts confirmed the depth of Greek-American relations, as well as Greece’s key role as a pillar of stability and progress in the wider region.

Looking ahead to the pre-election period, Mitsotakis called on citizens to renew their trust in the government and asked for a clear mandate to govern alone. “As we enter a long pre-election period, I ask that we renew the agreement of truth we made in 2019 and updated in 2023. Stability does not mean stagnation. It means we can build reforms,” he said.

He also explained why he believes single-party government is necessary: “We are asking for a single-party government so we can make quick decisions with full accountability. We have earned credibility through a lot of hard work, and we will not sacrifice it. I could give more, but that way we would be shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Closing his remarks, the prime minister stressed the government’s commitment to continuous improvement: “We learn from our mistakes. Only those who do nothing make no mistakes. We are moving forward for a better Greece.”

A.G.