Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Thanasis Kontogeorgis commented, among other things, on the government’s decision regarding non-performing loans, stressing that “we moved forward with what we consider fair and as a reward for consistency.”
Kontogeorgis on non-performing loans: Whatever is right, reasonable, fair, and within our power — we will do it
Speaking on Real FM, Kontogeorgis first addressed opposition party criticism from recent weeks, in which parties had questioned whether the government intended to implement the court ruling. The reality, he explained, is that “the Ministry of Finance was studying the decision,” while also emphasizing that “we moved forward with what we consider fair and as a reward for borrowers’ consistency.”
Specifically, the provision in question “gives relief to quite a few of our fellow citizens — around 100,000. Whatever is right, reasonable, fair, and within our power, we will do. We cannot do things that put many issues at risk,” he further explained. Dismissing suggestions that the government’s decision was influenced by the fact that the country is in an election year, he insisted that the government stayed strictly within the boundaries of the Supreme Court ruling — and that “these are the options available.”
Ten months left until the elections
Shifting topics, when asked whether the country is heading toward early elections — prompted in part by the Prime Minister’s regional tours — Kontogeorgis responded as follows: “The fact that the Prime Minister engages with society and travels around the country is nothing new. It has been happening throughout the entire four-year term,” he said, reiterating that “ten months remain until the elections.”
The Deputy Minister, however, placed significant emphasis on Greece’s EU Council Presidency in 2027, which he said will not be “a routine Greek Presidency.” On the contrary, it will be “a Presidency during which the way we live in the coming years will be determined, because that is when the European budget will be agreed upon. By then, we need a Prime Minister with diplomatic capital” — one who will also have the ability to bridge divisions within the EU.
What he said about Dimitris Avramopoulos
The next topic of the interview was the case involving New Democracy MP and former EU Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos: “He has provided some explanations regarding the substance of the case,” explanations that “have a logic and coherence to them.” At the same time, he continued, “I understand that he feels he is being treated unfairly, and that emotional charge can sometimes lead to certain verbal excesses.”
He was, however, categorical when it came to the Ministry of Citizen Protection: “There was no delay whatsoever, and the minister is not implicated.” On the contrary, “because it was a European arrest warrant, procedures moved quickly,” and everything was handled “within a 24-hour period.” As for what comes next, his bottom line was clear: “Whatever needs to be done will be done with complete transparency and in the manner required by the Constitution and the Code of Criminal Procedure.”
