Under certain conditions, the amount accumulated for a child through the “Piggy Bank for the Next Generation” scheme can reach up to €93,173 by the time they come of age — a new initiative presented by Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Thessaloniki International Fair. Following the announcement, parapolitika.gr and its street poll segment “Gia Pes” (“Go Ahead, Tell Us”) took to the streets of central Athens to capture citizens’ views on the usefulness and social reach of the initiative.
The core philosophy behind the measure is the creation of a savings fund for children, which would grow alongside them until adulthood, providing a financial cushion as they begin their adult lives. The responses captured by the “Gia Pes” camera, however, paint a mosaic of opinions, with many citizens expressing skepticism about whether the scheme can genuinely reach the average Greek family.
@parapolitika 🐖💶 “Piggy Bank for the Next Generation”: What does it really mean and how will the funds be distributed? Manos Anthoulaakis headed to Syntagma Square for a new “Gia Pes” street poll on the new measure announced by Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Thessaloniki International Fair. 🎥✂️ Panos Petritis #parapolitikagr #piggybank ♬ original sound – Parapolitika.gr
Piggy Bank for the Next Generation: “Go ahead, tell us” — what do you know about it?
“This is a measure that doesn’t affect the majority of society,” one participant noted pointedly, while another argued it amounted to “handouts for the few, with little real impact,” suggesting that citizens are essentially getting back a portion of what they already pay in taxes.
A recurring theme in the responses was the financial capacity of households to save in the first place. Citizens pointed out that when an average family struggles to cover even basic living costs, saving inevitably takes a back seat. From this perspective, some suggested that the initiative may end up being more accessible — and more beneficial — to wealthier households. That said, positive views were also voiced. One university student noted that while a family could theoretically build up similar savings on their own, any financial support upon reaching adulthood can prove invaluable — particularly for students who need to relocate for their studies.
The key question that emerges, therefore, is whether the “Piggy Bank” scheme will serve as a meaningful support tool for the next generation, or whether it will remain out of reach for a significant portion of households already under financial strain.
The “Piggy Bank for the Next Generation” will take the form of a dedicated investment account, through which the state will effectively match family contributions — depositing one euro for every euro saved by parents, up to a set annual limit. The aim is to provide children with financial support in the early years of their adult lives, while also fostering a lasting culture of saving.
