In the aftermath of the global economic crisis of 2009-2010, which effectively marked the beginning of the most recent wave of attacks on democratic principles and order around the world, Greece was the first country that was engulfed by and eventually voted populist forces into power in 2015, main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a "New York Times" and "Euro2day.gr" tribute focusing on the challenges and threats to democracy.