Greek conservatives elect new leader to challenge Tsipras

The conservative New Democracy party in Greece has elected a new leader to challenge the left-wing government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

   Kyriakos Mitsotakis comes from one of the country’s most influential political families and has been critical of trade union practices and state waste.

   He is now expected to challenge Tsipras ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote on pension reform that will be a part of the first review of Greece’s bailout programme.

   “On Monday New Democracy will not simply be united - it will be renewed,” said Mitsotakis. “The new, expanded centre-right party will be able to present and alternative plan to lead the country out of the crisis.”

   New Democracy governed Greece between 2004 and 2009 but saw its popularity decline during the country’s debt crisis. They lost the election in January last year and again in September when Tsipras consolidated his victory. Mitsotakis’s father Contstantinos served as prime minister from 1990 to1993 and his older sister was foreign minister between 2006 and 2009.

Πηγή: euronews