Former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, a vocal supporter of Greece during its financial crisis in the previous decade, praised Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Saturday during a speech at the ruling New Democracy party congress, crediting him with strengthening Greece’s role in Europe.
“You are a great prime minister because you have placed Greece back at the heart of the European process,” Juncker said. “You are widely respected in Greece, in the European Union, and beyond. You are a man who fulfills his duties.”
Referring to the ruling New Democracy, founded in 1974 by Konstantinos Karamanlis following the restoration of democracy after the fall of the military junta, Juncker said: “It was founded by Karamanlis, a great leader who brought the European Union to Greece and Greece to the European Union. We remain grateful for the work of this great man.”
“Greece, the birthplace of European democracy, allows us to say that Greece is the place from which the European way of life began,” he added.
Juncker also recalled his role during the eurozone crisis, saying he “always fought to keep Greece within the eurozone,” adding that at times he felt he was acting alone in that effort.
