Kyranakis appointed new secretary of the political committee of ND

The deputy Minister of Transport, Konstantinos Kyranakis, has been selected by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the position of Secretary of the Political Committee of New Democracy, according to sources.

It is recalled that Kostas Skrekas had resigned from the position of ND Secretary following the submission of the second OPAP case file to Parliament. Temporarily, until the blue party’s congress, the Secretary of Organization, Stelios Kontadakis, had taken over the duties.

However, the new Political Committee elected at the ND congress must select a new secretary and will convene for this purpose on Wednesday, June 10.

Initially, names mentioned for the position included Deputy Minister of the Interior Vasilis Spanakis and Artas MP Giorgos Stylios, followed by the Dodecanese MP Giannis Pappas.

The appointment of a government member to the party, combined with the need to fill the late Nikos Tagaras’ post at the Ministry of Environment and Energy, as well as to strengthen the Prime Minister’s team while Deputy Minister to the PM Giorgos Mylonakis continues his recovery after an aneurysm, opens the window for a cabinet reshuffle, which many in the blue camp believe has been delayed.

Nevertheless, Mr. Mitsotakis has proven not to favor sweeping reshuffles. In addition, in the economic team as well as in defense and foreign policy, changes are difficult while the war in Iran continues. Government officials indicated that after the election of the new secretary, on Thursday–Friday, changes in the government may occur. It remains to be seen whether the Prime Minister will fully open the scope of changes with a mini-reshuffle.

The Political Aim of Kyranakis’ Appointment

Mr. Kyranakis, elected in the Southern Athens Sector and with a long party career through DAP and ONNED, is considered capable of appealing both to the traditional and hard-right base of ND, at a time when the governing party faces a critical battle to consolidate support. This comes as former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras appears set to form a new party.

“Konstantinos Kyranakis is a figure who comes from the heart of the party and understands better than most the authentic DNA of its voters,” said government officials.

They further describe the new ND Secretary as “a person with a career and intra-party legitimacy, who has climbed the party hierarchy step by step, with strong international networks and respect within the European center-right.”

In 2013, under Samaras’ leadership of ND, Kyranakis was elected President of the youth branch of the European People’s Party, a position he held until 2017. In 2014, he participated in Jean-Claude Juncker’s campaign for the European Commission presidency. In 2015–2016, he was part of Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ team during the leadership contest of ND.

From 2016 to 2019, he served as ND Deputy Spokesperson, coming into direct opposition with the Tsipras-Kammenos government—a “background” that clearly influenced Mitsotakis’ decision, especially as Alexis Tsipras’ ELAS ranks second in the polls.

In 2023, Kyranakis became Deputy Minister of Digital Governance and, in the March 2025 reshuffle, was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport. The Prime Minister’s office judged that in both positions he demonstrated the ability to take on and accomplish difficult tasks.

“He is one of those people who do not shy away from challenges, always striving to deliver results,” party officials noted, citing specifically the completion of the Land Registry. His tenure at the Ministry of Transport was considered successful, with additional safety measures in railways, timely delivery of infrastructure projects, and the implementation of the agreement for brand-new trains.

Kyranakis has been accused of involvement with the so-called “Truth Group,” which he has described as independent, though he admitted working for a private company while being a political figure of ND.

The Stakes of the Next Day

Given Kyranakis’ close personal relationship with Mitsotakis, government officials state that the new ND Secretary “is expected to give all his energy and personal commitment to the battle for majority support and the Prime Minister’s reelection, with the central goal that all party members ‘work hard.’”

They also regard his appointment as “another tangible move supporting the party’s generation of 30-somethings,” similar to the selection of today’s government spokesperson, Pavlos Marinakis, in 2021 as ND Secretary.

“Those who read between the lines insist: this is not simply about managing the party machinery. That is obvious,” they add.

“The real challenge is rejuvenating the party base and re-engaging citizens who remain emotionally attached to ND but have drifted from active participation. This audience either remains silent or observes from a distance.”

From the Prime Minister’s office, it is estimated that Kyranakis possesses a key advantage in this regard: “He can speak both to the party audience and to constituencies that traditional parties find difficult to reach.”

“Konstantinos Kyranakis speaks the language of the New Democrat as well as that of young people,” government officials conclude, stating:

“The crucial question is not only organizational readiness ahead of elections. It is whether ND can appear more outward-looking, modern, and appealing to citizens who today are either politically inactive or leaning elsewhere.”