Founding and legal registration

New Democracy marks its 52nd anniversary on 4 October 2026, tracing its origins to the restoration of democratic governance in Greece following the collapse of the military dictatorship. Following his return from Paris on 24 July 1974 to head the Government of National Unity, Konstantinos Karamanlis announced the formation of the party on 28 September 1974. The party published its first draft charter on 29 September 1974, and Karamanlis submitted the official declaration of establishment to the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court on 4 October 1974 under Legislative Decree 59/1974. The name was suggested by aide Takis Lambrias, who drew inspiration from a London newspaper published during the dictatorship by former Athens mayor Georgios Plytas, whereas an alternative proposal by Angelos S. Vlachos to adopt the title Democratic Faction was rejected. Karamanlis's declaration coincided with the announcement by the United Left alliance, formed by the United Democratic Left and the Communist Party of Greece.

Ideological development and milestones

The founding declaration distinguished the party from the pre-dictatorship National Radical Union, positioning it as a broad political faction oriented toward national unity. The party defined its platform as radical liberalism, a concept that was systematically developed at pre-congress assemblies in 1977 and formally adopted at the Chalkidiki party congress in 1979. Key milestones cited by the party include managing the accession of Greece to the European Economic Community, navigating periods of economic austerity, and returning to government in 2019 under Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Konstantinos G. Karamanlis Foundation noted that the founding aimed to transcend traditional factional divides and broaden appeal toward the political center.

Anniversary remarks and political objectives

Party leaders marked the 52-year anniversary with public messages addressing the party membership and future electoral plans. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis released a statement crediting the party's voters and local activists for sustaining the organization across five decades.

“Ideas, but also people. These two shaped the history of New Democracy.”

Party Vice-President and Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis published an article through the Athens-Macedonian News Agency outlining political priorities, including a target to win a third consecutive single-party majority in the 2027 national elections. Georgiadis commended the work of the party's youth wing, ONNED, and local committee members in maintaining grassroots operations while in government and opposition.

“The European path was never just an economic choice for us. It was a choice of freedom, security and perspective for future generations.”

Commemorative program in Athens

The party organized its central anniversary event for Monday, 5 October 2026, at the old OSY depot situated at the junction of Pireos and Ermou streets in Athens. The venue houses a digital retrospective covering the period from 1974 to 2026, displaying archive photographs, past election posters, and contemporaneous newspaper front pages. The event incorporates interactive features including party history quizzes, a 360-degree photography booth, and digital spaces simulating campaign rallies. The gathering concludes with a scheduled speech by Prime Minister and New Democracy President Kyriakos Mitsotakis.