"Greece can and will succeed" was the main slogan of New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras on Tuesday during his address to the first meeting of ND's Election Committee where he presented ND's main policy lines with which the party will "seek a clear mandate to govern with its hands free".

Samaras announced that the party's tickets will be released on Tuesday with 412 candidates in 56 electoral constituencies. A "generous renewal" has been done given that half of the candidates are new to the political scene. "We put emphasis on young people and people originating from ND's youth organisation (ONNED) and to young scientists", he said, adding that "we are giving a wide range to the voters, who will have the opportunity to select, because they are the ones that will make the renewal," he noted.

The ND leader presented the five main targets of the elections, first to reverse the climate of despair and misery that prevails in Greek society, secondly to indicate the way in which Greece will succeed, third to make clear ND's differences from the other parties and to persuade the people that we are different because we know the way to get out of the crisis and this will be achieved only if we have a clear mandate and finally to tell the whole truth to the people.

Moreover, Samaras announced that on Thursday at Zappeion, downtown Athens, he will present in detail his party's programme on the economy, which he said will be based on development. The full policy platform of his party will be presented on Thursday, 26 April.