Greece’s Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakos, spoke at length about a package of consumer protection measures during an appearance on the “Live Now” program on ERT. “We have taken measures to intervene in the market in order to make it fairer and more accessible to citizens who need it most. These measures have not been implemented anywhere else in Europe. The profit margin cap on food and essential goods has never been introduced by any previous Greek government — not by PASOK, not by Tsipras’ SYRIZA. It is an exceptionally interventionist measure and has already brought about price reductions on hundreds of products,” he emphasized. Mr. Theodorikakos noted that “we also applied this measure to fuel during the period when the war was ongoing. Now the main direction is to remove it, because if it is confirmed that the war in the Middle East is coming to an end, the fuel market will stabilize.”
Takis Theodorikakos: I’m waiting for their proposals
He also stressed that “I am in continuous dialogue with the food industry and supermarkets in order to reach a national social agreement with price reductions, and I am awaiting their latest proposals. It is a matter of 3–4 days before we make the relevant announcements. My focus is on essential products that concern the average Greek household. Otherwise, the profit margin cap will have to remain in place, as we have no other way to regulate the market.”
The minister also addressed criticism from the opposition regarding the new digital platform PosoKanei, stating that “it is a great shame that common-sense measures in this country become the subject of partisan debate and criticism. I understand that elections are coming in a few months and the opposition has to say something. We built an interactive platform that includes all supermarkets, where prices are updated at least once a day, so that when someone wants to go shopping, they know where they can find products at the lowest price. This is something that consumer organizations themselves should have done — and in the end, it was created by the new Independent Authority, which carries out strict inspections by enforcing the legislation we have passed, because we want citizens to have a safety net and not be left unprotected.”
“Our job is to stand by citizens”
Mr. Theodorikakos also noted that the government stands by its citizens and has a full understanding of the issues that concern them. “Interventions that help borrowers lead to lower installments, while a Ministry of Development bill currently under public consultation on consumer credit will protect citizens from abusive banking practices. These are things that society sees and understands, and our job is to not rest on our laurels and to keep working to make things better for all citizens.”
The Minister of Development further emphasized that “our job is, beyond the constructive work we must produce, to stand by citizens and society, to listen to their views and criticism, to keep our eyes and ears open, and to correct mistakes and weaknesses.”
Finally, when asked about former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, he expressed his view that “I believe Mr. Samaras will not form a new party. Because I want to believe that a man who served as leader of New Democracy and as Prime Minister of this country has no reason, toward the end of his political career, to do something that would harm the party. He should not form a new party, and I believe he will not. Let us keep the paths of unity strong.”
