The elections in the United States of America, the Greek-Turkish elections, the interventions of former prime ministers, etc. Karamanlis and Samaras, as well as the topic of policing, were the topics of the interview of the Minister of State Akis Skertsou on “Sky”.
Starting with the American elections, he wished “there will be a great participation”, after all, he continued, “the citizens’ vote is oxygen for a democracy. What will come out of the ballot box should serve global international geopolitical stability. We live in a very turbulent time, we cannot stand any more crises, the United States is a superpower. We need, locally, nationally and supranationally, less toxicity, more understanding,” he argued.
While on the question of whether Athens prefers one of the two candidate Presidents, the Minister of State clarified: “We serve the national colors of Greece, the President of America serves the national interests of the United States”, in the end Athens will cooperate with whoever is elected.
“For us, Greece first, what counts is that the national colors are deservedly represented abroad”, which “we have achieved with the government of the prime minister. What matters is that the Greek national positions are heard in the loudest, clearest way, as was done two years ago in the American Senate, where our prime minister was applauded by both sides.” While in a question about the recent meeting of Mr. Mitsotakis and Pompeo, Akis Skertsos said it was “a private meeting in which important current issues were definitely discussed”.
On the occasion of the speech of the former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on Monday, he repeated the fixed government position: “The former Prime Ministers have every right to express themselves in the way they choose. Their opinions are respected. All opinions are heard, New Democracy is an open, democratic party.”
“The two former prime ministers are doing well and are taking their positions. The policy of the ND government has not moved even a centimeter from those that were implemented both under the Samaras and Karamanlis governments”, he assured at a later point and continued:
“In national matters, the government has shown the maximum possible national responsibility. Greece, today, is much stronger than the Greece of 2019. There is the fence on the Evros, there is a greater deterrent force, we did our best to reduce migration flows.”
Finally, “it is good to hear reservations, to hear observations in the context of a constructive dialogue. The prime minister has proven that he can make Greece a stronger and prouder country, without giving up anything from our fixed positions.”
“Of course not” was his answer to the question of whether we are discussing anything other than the unique difference with Turkey. Something was made clear, he insisted, in the recent briefing of ND MPs by Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis. Positions that are “this is what the prime minister says at every opportunity”. Of course, he added, “it is good that the dialogue is taking place, that the tones between Greece and Turkey have dropped, we have zero violations, we have much better cooperation on the issues of migration flows”. However, “none of us are naive. Turkey is a revisionist power. We know very well who is sitting at the table across from us. We need patriotism of responsibility, logic and, if we can, to solve the issues that concern us permanently. We can live together but without constantly creating tension, that’s the point.”
The interview had started, however, with the traffic accidents and on the occasion of the injury of a 12-year-old child, the minister announced that on the 2nd 15th of November there will be a presentation about the cameras, by the co-competent ministries. “The key change and innovation will be the digitization of the call tracking and confirmation process. Through a network of at least 1,000 cameras, a message will come to the mobile phone that you are being checked for a violation.” In this way, he explained, “the intervention of the municipality will be removed” and “within three months the confirmation of the summons will be cleared. If it is not paid, it will become an overdue debt to the tax office. We consider that this will be implemented in the 2nd half of 2025.”
The interview ended with information provided by the Minister of State regarding the performance of the Ministry of Citizen Protection and the police. In 2019, from the beginning of the year to August, there were 86,671 arrests. In the corresponding period in 2024 it was 102,595. “It is an increase of at least 25%, this means that the police are doing their job better, they are more present where they need to be,” he pointed out. Accordingly, 307 criminal organizations have been arrested in 2024, 190 in 2019. In matters of road safety, traffic policing, 587,765 checks had been made in 2019 and have increased to 858,103. Increased to over 300,000, he observed and concluded: “The police are now present, they are closer to the citizen. A democratic, efficient police force is closer to those who need it most, the most vulnerable citizens. The police serve security, they serve democracy.”
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**Interview with Akis Skertsos, Minister of State**
**Interviewer:** Good evening, Mr. Skertsos. Thank you for joining us. Let’s start with the upcoming U.S. elections. What are your thoughts on their significance for Greece and international relations?
**Akis Skertsos:** Thank you for having me. The U.S. elections are crucial, not just for America but for global stability. I hope there will be a great turnout because citizens’ votes represent the lifeblood of democracy. Given the turbulent times we live in, the outcome must promote geopolitical stability, which is important for all nations, including Greece.
**Interviewer:** Do you think Greece shows a preference for any of the presidential candidates?
**Akis Skertsos:** Our focus is on representing Greece’s national interests. We respect all candidates, but ultimately, whoever is elected as President must serve the interests of the United States. Our goal is to ensure that Greece’s position is well-represented regardless of the outcome.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of representation, former Prime Ministers Karamanlis and Samaras have voiced their opinions recently. How does the government view their input?
**Akis Skertsos:** We respect the right of former Prime Ministers to express their thoughts. New Democracy is an open and democratic party, and we value input from all our members. It’s important for us to maintain dialogue within the party.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that the current government’s policies align with those of past administrations. Can you elaborate on that?
**Akis Skertsos:** Absolutely. Our policies have not deviated from the courses set by Samaras and Karamanlis. In national matters, we have acted with great responsibility. Greece today is much stronger than it was in 2019, thanks to strategic initiatives like the fence at Evros and bolstering our deterrent capacities.
**Interviewer:** On the topic of Greece-Turkey relations, there seems to be a cautious approach. How do you view these ongoing discussions?
**Akis Skertsos:** Dialogue is essential. While the tones have softened and we’ve seen improvements in cooperation, especially regarding migration issues, we must remain vigilant. Turkey is a revisionist power, and we cannot be naïve. Our goal is to solve our concerns constructively while avoiding unnecessary tension.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, what message would you like to convey regarding Greece’s position moving forward?
**Akis Skertsos:** We need a balanced mix of responsibility and patriotism as we navigate these complex relationships. We can coexist peacefully, but we must also stand firm in our national interests. Greece has a bright future ahead, and we will continue to advocate for our rights and positions on the international stage.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Skertsos. It’s always insightful to hear your perspectives.
**Akis Skertsos:** Thank you for having me.
