Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the tragic loss of human life following the arson attack in Thessaloniki in his weekly post, sending a message of zero tolerance toward violence and lawlessness. The Prime Minister also touched on the cost of living, support for families and farmers, survivor pensions, healthcare, education, and infrastructure projects.
«The tragic loss of a human life following the arson attack in Thessaloniki has overshadowed every other development this week. Our country has paid a very heavy price — in blood and pain — for blind violence. What happened in Thessaloniki shows, in the harshest possible way, that no ideological pretext can justify a murderous attack. The perpetrators of this ruthless attack against members of New Democracy will be found and will be held accountable before Justice,» the Prime Minister stressed.
Mitsotakis also addressed the remaining issues in his weekly review, beginning with the cost of living and the commitment to hold prices steady across 2,000 product codes in July and August. He also highlighted the emergency €150-per-child benefit, payments to farmers, the reform of survivor pensions, and OECD data showing that more Greeks are returning to the country than leaving.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ full post
«As in life, so too in politics — there are moments when everything else fades into the background. The tragic loss of a human life following the arson attack in Thessaloniki has overshadowed every other development this week. Our country has paid a very heavy price — in blood and pain — for blind violence. What happened in Thessaloniki shows, in the harshest possible way, that no ideological pretext can justify a murderous attack. The perpetrators of this ruthless attack against members of New Democracy will be found and held accountable before Justice. It is clear that our unwavering decision since 2019 to confront lawlessness and enforce the rule of law everywhere is disturbing to some. Let it be known, from this moment on, that we will not back down, nor will we allow Greece to return to the years of division. Just as November 17 was dismantled and Golden Dawn was dissolved, the same will happen to these cowards who play at being revolutionaries.
And clearly, it is not enough to simply condemn violence after the damage is done. All of us — parties and politicians alike — must reflect on our own responsibilities. When political discourse becomes toxic and divisive, when we treat our opponent as an enemy to be destroyed, we are essentially rolling out the red carpet for those who wish to commit crimes. We lived through this painfully during the years of the crisis, and we must not allow it to happen again. This battle against the mindsets that drag us backward is one we will fight to the end. Because memory is the daily struggle that every Democracy must wage if it does not want — and must not — repeat the mistakes of the past. This holds particular significance today, as we mark 11 years since the ill-fated 2015 referendum that nearly pushed us out of the euro. The forces that brought it about “learned nothing and forgot nothing.” They now appear with the exact same political ideas and without genuine remorse, seeking once again to win the people’s vote. Greece will move forward, even if some refuse to learn from the mistakes of the past.
To be completely honest, this is one of those times when I find it difficult to continue this review as though it were a normal week. But I must, because reality out there does not stop.
I begin, then, with the most pressing front: the cost of living. On our initiative, we secured a commitment from the business community that prices will not rise in July and August — the reduced prices on 2,000 product codes, maintained through the price cap, will remain in effect during this two-month period. Preparations are also underway to achieve a significant reduction in the prices of basic products widely used by the average Greek household from the beginning of September.
In the same spirit of supporting families, we delivered on yet another commitment. This week, the emergency benefit of €150 per child was paid out to approximately 950,000 families — with no application required from recipients. The benefit covers 1,525,188 children, and for children born after January 1, 2025, who do not yet have a tax identification number, a second payment has been planned for by the end of August.
We were equally true to our word when it came to farmers, completing the first round of payments for the first half of the year. The transition of OPEKEPE to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) — a difficult but necessary reform — is already bearing fruit. More than €617 million was disbursed to approximately 530,000 verified recipients, and total agricultural subsidies since the start of the year exceeded €1.1 billion. Most importantly, the payments were made with greater reliability and transparency — something the farmers themselves acknowledge. This now enables us to reallocate resources that previously went to those who were not entitled to them. Genuine producers received a 15% boost this year, and will receive even more in the next payment cycle this autumn.
I want to highlight the next measure, as I consider it particularly important — I wrote to you about it on Friday as well. Through legislation, we are permanently correcting an injustice in survivor pensions, abolishing the cut introduced by the Katrougalos law after the three-year period. Recipients will continue to receive 70% of the deceased’s pension, without the reduction to 35%, without having to repay a single euro retroactively, and those receiving two national pensions will continue to receive both in full. This is a decision of social justice made reality without jeopardizing the fiscal stability of the insurance system, as increased employment and the implementation of the digital work card are steadily bolstering pension fund revenues.
Last week also saw the publication of a particularly significant OECD report confirming that Greece has turned a page, closing yet another painful chapter from the previous decade’s crisis — the brain drain. With the endorsement of an international organization, it is now recognized that since 2023, for the first time in many years, more Greeks are returning to their homeland than are leaving. In total, over the two-year period 2023–2024, 98,000 Greeks returned, while 69,000 left. The brain drain is becoming a brain gain. This did not happen by chance. It is the result of the stability we achieved, the growth we generated, and the policies we have implemented since 2019: more jobs, better prospects, tax incentives for repatriation, support for innovation, a digital state, and reforms that make Greece a more attractive place to live and work. I know that not all problems have been solved. Much remains to be done so that our young people find even more opportunities here, better wages, and a state that rewards effort. But the data shows we are on the right track. We continue with consistency, so that Greece may definitively become a country of return, of prospect, and of optimism for all Greeks.
The next section of the review covers healthcare. This week, we inaugurated the renovated Penteli Children’s Hospital — a project that meaningfully transforms the daily lives of young patients, their families, and the people who work there. It is more than a building renovation: it includes interventions in the outdoor areas, infrastructure for people with disabilities, and many additional amenities that contribute to a radical upgrade of the healthcare services provided. This renovation is part of the largest upgrade of NHS infrastructure since its founding, and it is being delivered by our government, as we pledged in 2023. I would like to thank the Kaizen Foundation for its significant contribution.
Regarding NHS staffing, I should note that in the largest simultaneous job posting in the history of the NHS, the response from the medical community was markedly improved, with 962 out of 1,171 positions filled. This is clear proof that the institutional and financial incentives we established are working. The remaining 209 unfilled positions are primarily in hospitals in underserved areas, though compared to the past, some of these areas did in fact attract applicants this time. All vacant positions will be re-advertised during the summer. I should also note that this year has been scheduled to see the largest annual staffing reinforcement in NHS history, encompassing 5,208 permanent positions (1,800 medical, 1,930 nursing, and 1,478 other staff) and 3,000 auxiliary positions — bringing the total potential reinforcement to 8,208 individuals.
There has also been considerable discussion about the free afternoon surgeries programme — our initiative aimed at reducing surgical waiting times to under four months. That goal has largely been achieved. In spring 2024, 90,000 surgeries were pending, with waiting times in some cases reaching two years. Today, the number of surgeries awaiting between four and six months has dropped to just 7,000. The Recovery Fund’s emergency programme served as a major accelerator in this effort, providing free services to 26,000 of our fellow citizens. Although it concluded on June 30, if pressure rises again, a solution using state resources will be sought.
Another reform I want to highlight this week concerns local government. The new Local Government Code brings order to an institutional framework that had become complex and fragmented over the years. We are modernizing and simplifying the way municipalities and regions operate, strengthening their autonomy, and providing more tools so they can respond more effectively to the needs of local communities. Among other measures, mayors and regional governors will now be elected in a single round; electronic voting will be introduced; a new staffing system will be established through an electronic ASEP (Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection) registry; and municipalities will be empowered to grant birth allowances of up to €3,000 per child — by decision of the Municipal Council — along with expanded social benefits for employees serving in mountainous and island municipalities. The ultimate goal of this reform is simple: less bureaucracy, greater efficiency, and better public service.
Turning to infrastructure, yet another major project is entering its final stretch. ADMIE has completed the fourth and final phase of the electrical interconnection of the Cyclades with the mainland grid, with the addition of Santorini, Folegandros, Milos, and Serifos. The necessary tests will be carried out in the coming period so that the interconnection can be gradually brought into full operation over the next few months. This is a strategically significant project that enhances energy security for our islands — particularly during the summer months — while reducing their dependence on polluting oil-fired units and contributing to the green energy transition.
Staying with our islands: using ESPA (European Structural and Investment Funds) resources, we are moving forward with the construction of housing for doctors, nurses, teachers, and security force personnel serving in island municipalities. Housing units have already been secured in Lipsi, Astypalaia, Ithaca, Tinos, Amorgos, Patmos, and the Municipality of Agios Vasileios, with the programme envisaging a total of 100 units. In the same spirit — though not on an island — in Grevena, the first 40 title deeds were handed over to recipients of the workers’ housing settlement in Kyrakli, closing a matter that had been pending for nearly 20 years. DYPA (Public Employment Service) took over in 2023 to complete the project, which will ultimately include 80 housing units and the necessary communal infrastructure.
Another issue that affects everyday life — and road safety — is the rapid spread of electric scooters. This new reality on our streets requires regulation, as we have already mourned young lives lost. For this reason, those under 17 will no longer be permitted to ride electric scooters on public roads; fines for exceeding 50 km/h will increase to €350; riders must carry valid identification documents and proof of mandatory insurance. On the other side, companies that sell, distribute, or rent electric scooters to individuals under 17 will face fines of €1,000. I urge everyone to exercise particular caution when using electric scooters. This is not a toy.
Turning to education: the free Digital Tutoring platform will continue to operate throughout July and August. The live lessons concluded with the end of the national university entrance exams, but we have decided to keep the platform open, providing free access to thousands of hours of educational content, revision sessions, mock exams, and recorded lessons to help students prepare.
In addition, starting from the new school year, we are implementing significant changes to the country’s school network so that it better reflects the needs of students and the demographic developments of each area. Ten new secondary education units are being created, while special education is receiving a major boost — with 14 existing units being upgraded to special education schools and five new ones being established in areas with heightened needs: specifically in Sapes (Rodopi), Skopelos, Monolofos (Western
