Mitsotakis: 'We do not want to simply 'succeed' SYRIZA, but to become an entirely different gov't'

Sunday's European elections have acquired a special significance compared to previous electoral contests, said main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis at a public rally in Patras on Monday evening.

The difference, the New Democracy head said, is that it will be the first time Greeks will vote after enduring four years of austerity, therefore "this ballot does not allow for one-time political parties" that have no future.

"This coming Sunday we vote with both our hearts and with our logic faculties," Mitsoakis said, "we vote for New Democracy, which happens to be a united party, a refreshed party." ND's chief referred to SYRIZA's recent relief measures, saying citizens "are not easily lured by cheap last-minute tricks and propaganda," and will choose between "the quagmire of the past, or the better future that New Democracy can guarantee."

Mitsotakis visualised what he called "a Greece of fewer taxes and more jobs," but also referred to additional policing under his government against "hooded individuals who will be removed from the pavement." University asylum will be voided, added Mitsotakis, referring to a Greel ;aw, which prohibits any state authority - including the police, fire brigade or army - from entering university premises without the express permission of the university authorities.

He also stressed that patriotism is quite different from sterile nationalism and noted that ND "is the big patriotic party."

"Against SYRIZA's populism stands truth and hard work," said Mitsotakis, and added that "we do not want to simply 'succeed' SYRIZA as a government, we want to become an entirely different government."

New Democracy's appeal to society "needs no public opinion polls to weigh it up, or to show the party's wide spectrum appeal," he said, and underlined that ND party officials and supporters should all try to show anyone still undecided that the party is the way to go in the upcoming May 26 vote.