«The country does not need elections right now, for two reasons beyond the institutional ones related to the end of the four-year term,» emphasized government deputy president Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking today on OPEN. «The first reason is that we are in the middle of a crisis and it would not be responsible to go to elections at a time when further handling is needed in the economy, foreign policy, and defense. The second reason is that we have the expiration of the Recovery Fund this summer, with several pending issues that the ministries and public administration must “run.” We continue our work normally, we have plenty of things to do and quite difficult issues to deal with. This is my opinion, which is also the prime minister’s opinion,» he explained.
Regarding PASOK’s decision to exclude possible post-election cooperation with New Democracy for government formation, Kostis Hatzidakis noted that in practice this position strengthens ND’s argument that an autonomous government is needed. «Since PASOK doesn’t want to cooperate with us, given how the political scene has developed in recent years, I don’t see the possibility of forming a coalition government,» he noted and added: «We say that the country needs a strong government. Some of us had said that PASOK could constitute a solution, which however had self-canceled even before the congress decision, due to Mr. Androulakis’s own positions. This is now formalized with the acceptance of Mr. Doukas’s proposal by the PASOK leader. Therefore, we will go to elections saying that the country needs stability and that on one side there is ND and Mitsotakis, while on the other side Mr. Androulakis, Ms. Konstantopoulou, Mr. Famellos, Mr. Koutsoumbas, Mr. Velopoulos and whoever else might emerge. The sovereign people have even more reasons to vote for ND and will make their decisions.»
Kostis Hatzidakis on Middle East: The longer this crisis lasts, it will have effects on growth and inflation
Referring to the effects of the crisis in the Middle East, Kostis Hatzidakis emphasized that after measures to combat profiteering, the interventions in diesel, gasoline, fertilizers and ferry tickets are a first contribution by the government in the effort to address the crisis. «What takes priority now is to implement these interventions. Beyond that, we monitor developments daily and have some money aside to intervene again, if needed. The longer this crisis lasts, it will have effects on growth and inflation, we must not forget or downgrade this,» he stressed.
He also emphasized that for the foreseeable horizon in our country there is no issue of fuel adequacy. «The phenomenon is dynamic, but it’s too early to talk about something like that. We are not in this situation and I don’t believe we will have a problem,» he said.
Regarding the bill for a state more friendly to citizens, which is under discussion in Parliament with Kostis Hatzidakis’s initiative, he noted that it addresses daily madness stories, such as searching for certificates that the State itself already has, which are replaced by responsible declarations. Or claiming properties that had been granted to private individuals in the past. He also noted that the regulation allowing citizens to digitally track where their application is and who has taken on the file, constitutes a step of respect aimed at making public administration serve society. «I am very satisfied that this initiative is proceeding, which comes in continuation of interventions such as the digital modernization of the state, the acceleration of pension allocation, the telephone centers 1555 and 1566,» he concluded.
