The Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, announced the launch of a digital platform through which every citizen will be able to verify the benefits of the measures recently announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair. The platform is expected to be ready within the next 15 days. “I listen to citizens deeply. We are determined to do everything possible to support them to the maximum extent. We utilize every opportunity that arises and evaluate priorities,” the minister added.
Mr. Pierrakakis explained, speaking to OPEN TV, that through immediate support for disposable income and improvement of control mechanisms, the government is building barriers against high prices. He explained the benefits the measures will have for everyone, especially young people and families, while focusing particularly on pensioners. As the minister characteristically said: “A pensioner who declares an annual income of 14,000 euros will gain 600 euros per year from the total measures.”
Kyriakos Pierrakakis: What citizens gain from tax relief
“Everyone benefits from the measures. A young person under 25 years old with an annual income of 20,000 euros will gain 200 euros per month. If they are aged 26 to 30, they will gain 100 euros per month. Large families benefit with two salaries per parent. Especially for large families, the amount is generous,” the Finance Minister emphasized.
Regarding measures for pensioners, he explained: “If there is a government that gave hope to pensioners, it is this one. We started the announcements on Easter Tuesday with pensioners and the 250-euro support, which was part of a 1.1 billion euro package. Now we are attempting to support them further by abolishing personal differences, new pension increases, and through reducing tax rates. Also, we are the government that has already given 10% increases to pensions. I won’t tell you it’s enough. I’ll tell you it’s a first step, what the economy can bear and what the economy allows.”
On high prices and VAT reductions
“We support households and their income comprehensively. Beyond that, the state’s control mechanisms aim to contain prices where the control mechanism truly plays a role. It’s a problem many countries face. We have strengthened control mechanisms, one after another, and you see the Independent Authority we are creating from the Development Ministry. That’s one thing, and another is to create the false belief among people that there are governments in the Western world that fully control prices on shelves,” he emphasized regarding high prices.
“In November, 80% of tenants will see one rent payment back. However, we will do more to solve the major housing problem, because it is significant,” Mr. Pierrakakis added.
“You can’t make a policy for everything every time. Because then you end up doing nothing. In connection with the VAT discussion, the issue of VAT reduction was heard a lot. This was the dilemma we had before us. Because we heard: ‘Reduce VAT to support the high prices issue.’ I will tell you that for the economic staff and for us, giving money directly and unmediated to people is the best policy for indirect income support,” he underlined regarding VAT reductions.
“PASOK’s doctrine is that money exists”
“It’s clear that PASOK has returned to the ‘money exists’ doctrine and it’s a shame. It’s a shame for the country. The money we give is 1.76 billion euros. We give it directly to people to support disposable income. This is what any sensible person would do if they had this specific opportunity before them,” he emphasized pointedly about PASOK.
“The country needs seriousness. You know what conversation I would really like to have? A debate with someone from PASOK who would say ‘I wouldn’t do what you’re doing, I would do that,'” the Finance Minister added.
“We are the government that catches tax evasion”
“If there is a government that has caught the largest part of tax evasion to date, it is this one. And I think this is very objective. I’ve been Finance Minister for six months, I entered my first Eurogroup and my first ECOFIN and I heard congratulations for the fact that Greece has now caught a large part of tax evasion.”
“We reduced 83 taxes, but we won’t commit today to what the specific choices will be when we have fiscal space. We examine everything, we are very open-minded, because we know all the problems are there. There are people who need to be supported. Bets need to be won. Problems need to be solved.
What’s important for us is that this is done effectively. You have a dilemma when you have a limited amount. Infinity doesn’t exist in life. No matter how much some people want infinity to exist. Those who told people that infinity existed, do you know who they were? Those who led to the problem. Unfortunately, problems aren’t solved with one law and one article. They are solved floor by floor. With work every year. And the work of this generation, to close, is not to send the bill to the next one, as all previous ones did.”
On Loverdos joining New Democracy
“People’s problems don’t have traditional color, I don’t believe so much in the old political geography. People want to see solutions to their problems. I’m pleased when a person comes to add with their experience, with their journey, to join forces and integrate into a broader path of solutions in New Democracy. You know what I don’t appreciate? I don’t appreciate the narcissism of small differences.
It’s a psychological phenomenon, but we’ve seen it very intensely in the Greek political scene. These small disagreements we have daily in parliament and as soon as the cameras and lights close, agreements increase by at least 50%. This thing must end. Political competition must be based on real data.”
“Politics for me is not a condition of origin, it’s a condition of prospect. And for the country, its future is a condition of prospect. Generally, the country’s political system must add and multiply, instead of subtracting and dividing. Anything else I perceive with a dimension that diminishes us,” the Finance Minister concluded.
