Anastasia Balezdrova
New Democracy’s leader Antonis Samaras presented the new logo of the party to about 300 party members, supporters and journalists in the new party’s building on Sigrou Avenue in Athens.
Two young people began the presentation. In a free friendly conversation they presented the new generation topics of concern and suggested the audience that the new face of New Democracy should resume the party and make it more attractive to the younger people.
By saying "Mr. President, Mr. Samaras, Antonis, we invite you on stage" Elvira and Konstandinos gave the floor to the party leader who took the baton with a smile.
In his brief speech Antonis Samaras admitted that he was seriously concerned about the idea of changing the party's logo "especially in this difficult and uncertain environment in which the party should be resumed in order to respond to the conditions of modern times."
"I wanted to be personally involved in the selection of the new logo from the beginning. The requirements were very specific: the new logo should reflect the values of New Democracy. They are transparency, innovation, humanity, security, quiet power," said the party leader.
"We do not throw away anything from the past good times. We will not throw the old symbol. It will be just recorded in history to remind us about the good and difficult moments we have experienced so far."
Standing, Antonis Samaras watched a video showing footage of election campaigns and flags with the old symbol - a hand holding torch on blue background. The video ended with the new much more simple and modern logo: the name of the party is written with no space between two words on a white background that symbolizes the new beginning. The torch is turned into an orange spiral and the green line below it symbolizes the environmental policy of the party. "We do not give away the ecology and the green colour to PASOK," was the comment of the party leader. There is a low dash at the end of the party's name which is a message to young people and people who deal with new means of communication.
Minutes later the canvas covering the main plate affixed to the facade of the new party headquarters was removed.
"This is the new logo of the party today and in the future. That’s it!" said Antonis Samaras. During the presentation was shown the new website of New Democracy. It is interactive and allows direct communication with the party’s friends. New Democracy hopes for an active and fruitful dialogue with its members on topics that will be opened for discussion on the website.
After the official presentation Antonis Samaras had an open and informal discussion with media representatives and did not hide his concerns about a possible social rebellion. "I am troubled by the fact that every day without developing turns the sore into a gash. Don’t they see that the social explosion is coming?" asked the leader of New Democracy.
When the talk came to the emergency elections scenarios Antonis Samaras said he was not aware of the Prime Minister’s intentions but stressed that his party was prepared for any possibility.
The leader of the main opposition party said he opposed the restructuring of the external debt of Greece. "Any restructuring of the debt is equal to bankruptcy." He, however, supported the opportunity for Eurobond issue and the lowering of the interest rate and the need the government to adopt measures for development.
Antonis Samaras said he intended to raise again the issue of the Athens Stock Exchange scandal when thousands of Greeks lost huge sums in 1997 and criticized the government of PASOK for not taking the initiative to investigate the case. As for the black cash boxes of the German company Siemens, he said that his party did not participate in the responsibilities aligning processes and defined as "ridiculous" the rumours of backroom party market. His comment about the changes in the law on ministerial responsibility by the government was a "communication trick". "A non-partisan issue falsely became a matter of one party."
Antonis Samaras said he supported the liberalization of closed professions but would consider his position separately just in case.
New Democracy leader admitted he was seduced by the idea to even change the name of the party. "Who does not think about all the possibilities?" he said but noted that "what we have done is what our age needs."
The old party symbol will remain only on the party ballots for now because the statute of the party stipulates that the Congress should take the decision for its removal.
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