Pavlos Marinakis hit back at Nikos Androulakis following the PASOK leader’s address at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), launching a sharp critique of the opposition leader’s announcements. The government spokesperson described the speech as a “shower of billions,” filled with “costless promises” and policy proposals that, he argued, are already being implemented by the current government. Marinakis placed particular emphasis on the absence of any concrete fiscal figures to back the economic measures presented by Androulakis.
Marinakis: “A shower of billions and costless promises”
In his official statement, the government spokesperson said: “Mr. Androulakis’ speech had a little of everything — a shower of billions, costless promises, and proposals for policies, many of which are already being implemented by the government he so systematically insults.”
He promised, for example, restrictions on short-term rentals — which already exist — and incentives to bring vacant properties back onto the market, which are also already in place. He pledged national preventive healthcare screening programs, which the government is already running, and modernized hospital infrastructure, at a time when the largest NHS modernization program in history is already being carried out using Recovery Fund resources.
The references to the New Lyceum and Article 86
Continuing his critique, Pavlos Marinakis turned to the PASOK leader’s proposals on education and constitutional reform: “He spoke about a New Lyceum and a National School-Leaving Certificate, while the government has already opened a dialogue on school reform. He also declared he would amend Article 86 in the next Revisionary Parliament — yet in the current Parliament, PASOK voted against the revision of that very same article in the first ballot.”
Criticism over the 13th salary and 13th pension
The government spokesperson also zeroed in on Androulakis’ pledges regarding a 13th monthly salary and a 13th pension payment, arguing that neither announcement was accompanied by any concrete reference to its fiscal cost. “At the same time, he promised a 13th salary and a 13th pension — without, of course, mentioning specific expenditure figures for a single economic measure. What we did not hear, once again, from Mr. Androulakis was a realistic, fully costed plan for the country.”
