Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis gave an extensive interview to ANT1 television station, specifically on the show “Face to Face”, where he analyzed critical issues affecting the country and the international community. The discussion centered on developments in the Middle East, Greek-Turkish relations, and the problems Greek citizens face daily due to inflation.
Greece present on all diplomatic fronts in Middle East – No risk of country’s involvement
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, starting his interview, speaking about the Middle East said among other things: “Unfortunately, the world has now become extremely unpredictable and the crisis in the Middle East is developing in a way that creates intense concerns for the impact this conflict will have on the European and global economy“. “No one can be a prophet to predict how these discussions will evolve. I wish and hope it will be a temporary flare-up and that both sides will return to the negotiating table and that final peace will ensure freedom of navigation and free passage of crude oil and petroleum products including natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz“, said the prime minister. Regarding the possibility of broader escalation, the prime minister emphasized that “our homeland’s diplomatic capital in the context of this conflict is evidently upgraded. Greece has a strategic relationship with Israel, not necessarily with the current government but with the state of Israel – a relationship that has depth and allows us to criticize Israel whenever we consider it takes actions that serve neither national interests nor regional security“.
He said that simultaneously our country has provided practical support to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and this process of supporting countries in crisis creates the conditions for substantial upgrading of our country with all significant Arab countries. He ruled out the risk of involvement because, as he said, we respect the agreements we have signed and move exclusively on initiatives that have a defensive character. Regarding the Ankara-Tel Aviv conflict, he said it conceals deeper differentiations of interests and emphasized that many times words may be said to address Turkey’s domestic public opinion. “I believe and hope we will not face another unnecessary source of tension in the Middle East”, he said and emphasized that Greece is present on all diplomatic fronts in the Middle East.
Functional relations with Turkey
Responding to a question about Greek-Turkish relations, Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that no prime minister seeks troubled waters. The government pursues functional relations with the neighboring country, however as he characteristically noted, a good captain is shown in a storm, and Greece has managed several storms.
Response to criticism from Karamanlis and Samaras
The prime minister also commented on the criticism he receives from former prime ministers Kostas Karamanlis and Antonis Samaras regarding the handling of Greek-Turkish relations, noting that both have handled Turkey in the past and know the complexity of the relations. “I consider their criticism on this specific issue unfair”, he mentioned, adding that he does not wish to elaborate further out of respect for their persons. The prime minister also reminded that Greece did its duty within the framework of SAFE, noting that Turkey was not included, while emphasizing that he was the first prime minister to raise the issue of casus belli with Ankara. “I told him that he cannot want to join Europe and have a threat of war against Greece“, he concluded.
Support measures against inflation
Inflation constitutes the biggest problem facing European governments, as the prime minister admitted. Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed full awareness that part of society struggles due to inflation. However, he emphasized that the recent increase in inflation is mainly due to fuel, with Greece being affected more due to higher fuel taxes. The government, as he stressed, has taken significant support measures, not as many as it would like but as many as it can, in order to support society against economic challenges. “We have consecutive minimum wage increases, we give 800 million in emergency aid… These are the capabilities of the Greek economy. A large part of the increases are neutralized by inflation but we must be realistic about what we can do. To those who say to reduce VAT on fuel, I answer that the gap that will be created, which exceeds one billion, where will it be found” said the prime minister.
“Andreas Papandreou had said that either we will fight debt or it will consume us. We need surpluses. Beyond that, the government did not choose a policy of subsidies. If we discuss subsidies supporting the weak, these will be maintained. Do our critics want us to cut the subsidies?” wondered Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “In the coming days we will announce the evolution of e-Consumer… We need to all sit at the table and say that we need a new social responsibility agreement. We are willing to take back some strict measures provided that prices will be reduced” he said.
Plans for announcements at Thessaloniki International Fair
“In the 1st term businesses were helped a lot. In the 2nd we turned our attention to employees and freelancers. We are working on the framework for TIF. It is not in our plans to return the 13th salary, which has been given through increases that far exceed the 13th salary” he said.
“I find it difficult to accept that the metropolitan bishop’s salary will be significantly lower than the mufti’s salary” he said, commenting on the salaries of metropolitans.
On rule of law and agricultural organization
Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the opposition’s accusations about the rule of law, emphasizing the recognition of progress by the European Union. His statements focused on the reforms the government is implementing in Justice and the agricultural sector, while also responding to issues concerning press freedom. “When we talk about rule of law, we talk about the overall framework that a lawful state must operate. What does the EU say? That we are making significant progress year by year. Such as the method of electing judges. This is significant progress in the right direction. When the opposition criticizes, the first thing it should do is see what they say outside Greece. The opposition is rather biased on this issue“, the prime minister said initially.
Regarding the agricultural payment organization, the prime minister said: “We are fighting a great battle against the deep state. I was the first to recognize that there was a great delay in the agricultural organization but we abolished it. The Gordian knot had to be cut. No farmer will call the tax authority to get a subsidy. It will be a success to know exactly how many animals we have in our country. We can know exactly what is cultivated in each field, if the field belongs… All these are united in one system. It is the most difficult reform I have attempted to make. No opposition party voted for it“. “The lifting of immunity was requested for 13 of our MPs. With political cost. 2 went immediately to the archive. The fund will be done when the European prosecutor finishes. Let’s see if it had the political dimension that some rushed to attribute“.
Tempi trial and rejection of accusations
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, referring to the Tempi case, argued that the government did not protect Kostas Karamanlis, pointing out that for the first time a governmental majority referred its minister to the Judicial Council. He stressed that the case is now in Justice, with dozens of defendants, and that only the courts can assign responsibilities. He focused particularly on the events after the accident, speaking of a “great urban myth” around xylene and an organized attempt to slander the government and himself personally through cover-up accusations. He characterized the accusations of “cover-up” as the greatest wretchedness he has heard in his political career, while regarding the delays of contract 717 he argued that the existence of administrative delays does not automatically entail criminal responsibilities. As an example he mentioned the Patras-Pyrgos route, arguing that project delays cannot automatically lead to criminal prosecution of ministers.
Wiretapping and role of intelligence service
Regarding the wiretapping case and Predator, he repeated that he has already recognized dysfunctions, that there were changes in the intelligence service and departures of persons from positions of responsibility, while noting that the case is in Justice and he does not wish to comment further. At the same time he emphasized the important role that, in his opinion, the intelligence service has played in managing critical national security issues.
Elections in spring 2027
Regarding the timing of elections, he stated categorically that they will take place in spring 2027 and not earlier. He explained that the country assumes the presidency of the European Union Council on July 1, 2027 and therefore the elections must have preceded. He argued that governments should exhaust their electoral cycle and expressed concern about the level of political confrontation, mentioning as an example the stance of parties in the Constitutional Revision process.