Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis inaugurated the expansion of the Thessaloniki Metro system to Kalamaria on Thursday, launching a major government outreach effort across northern Greece ahead of upcoming national elections.
The prime minister cut the ribbon at Mikra station at 09:30 am alongside officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, signaling the official start of passenger operations on the new underground line branch.
The opening marks the start of an extensive tour across Central and Western Macedonia by Mitsotakis and 16 cabinet ministers just days before the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair.
Government headquarters at Maximos Mansion is deploying senior officials to highlight completed development projects and strengthen support for the governing New Democracy party.
Opinion polls show New Democracy facing persistent political pressure across northern Greece from conservative formations positioned to its right.
The region of Macedonia was a key battleground where right-wing rival parties gained ground during both the 2023 Greek national elections and the 2024 European Parliament elections.
Thessaloniki Itinerary and Development Strategy
Following the morning ceremony at Mikra station, Mitsotakis convened a key political meeting with party lawmakers representing the first and second parliamentary districts of Thessaloniki, state deputies, and candidate nominees to prepare the party election machinery.
The prime minister delivered a major policy address at 12:00 pm at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, outlining the government national strategy for regional and local development across northern Greece.
Mitsotakis then held consecutive working sessions with representatives from commercial, industrial, and scientific organizations, as well as municipal mayors from across Central Macedonia, Western Macedonia, and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, serves as the economic and administrative center of the Central Macedonia region. The new Metro line extension connects the coastal suburban municipality of Kalamaria directly to the urban transport grid.
Industrial Tour of Western Macedonia
Mitsotakis traveled to Florina on Thursday evening before embarking on an extensive regional tour on Friday, 28 August, covering Florina, Ptolemaida, and Kozani.
The visit represents the prime minister's second trip to Western Macedonia in recent months, following the inauguration of the E-65 motorway section in Grevena.
Government strategists aim to showcase new private and public investments designed to offset economic challenges stemming from the region's transition away from traditional lignite coal power generation.
Western Macedonia, long the energy heartland of Greece, is undergoing a major economic transformation as older coal plants are phased out in favor of cleaner energy sources and local industrial diversification.
The prime minister's schedule includes inspection visits to manufacturing plants operated by Tottis Foods International, beverage producer Xino Nero, and agricultural processor Greka.
In Ptolemaida, Mitsotakis is visiting an agricultural investment project by Wonderplant alongside a combined heat and power cogeneration facility operated by the Public Power Corporation at Kardia.
The tour concludes in Kozani with an inspection of Kozani General Hospital and an open public gathering with local citizens scheduled for 18:30 pm.
Electoral Strategy Ahead of Trade Fair
The prime minister's dual focus in Thessaloniki and Western Macedonia reflects a broader strategy by Maximos Mansion leading into the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair, which runs from 5 September to 13 September 2026.
The annual trade fair is traditionally the premier venue where Greek leaders announce major economic policies, tax reforms, and infrastructure goals for the coming year.
By completing the Kalamaria Metro extension and meeting local business figures, government officials aim to demonstrate that past pledges have yielded concrete public works ahead of the September policy speeches.
Behind the scenes, private discussions with regional deputies and party operatives mark the beginning of candidate slate selection for New Democracy, aimed at preventing voter migration to right-wing parties.
Cabinet Focus and Opposition Counterproposals
The northern Greece outreach comes alongside broader policy updates from cabinet ministers and political responses from opposition parties.
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis addressed political toxicity and governmental credibility, stating that nothing is more damaging to a prime minister than an isolated inner political court.
The coordinated arrival of Mitsotakis and 16 ministers across Macedonia highlights the electoral stakes facing New Democracy as party leaders prepare for the upcoming fair.
Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos confirmed that state authorities have fully collected 25 million euros in fines imposed on multinational corporations and major commercial enterprises under the National Price Reduction Initiative.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement, known as PASOK, unveiled policy proposals seeking stronger legal protections for primary residences and a 120-instalment repayment scheme for taxpayer debts owed to the state.
