Speakers at New Democracy conference hit out at populism

Speakers at New Democracy's 12th conference over the weekend hit out against populism and hailed the party as the remedy for restoring Greece's tarnished image in Europe.

In a speech on Saturday, the leader of the center-right European People's Party (EPP) in European Parliament, Manfred Weber, expressed confidence in ND leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, saying an electoral win by the conservatives next year will bring multiple benefits. "A New Democracy government will not only sideline populists, it will also restore the credibility of this wonderful country in Europe," said Weber, who is the favorite to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as European Commission president.

"A New Democracy victory will also send a clear message to Europe that the rise of populism is not irreversible," he told delegates at the Metropolitan Expo venue near Athens International Airport in eastern...