The connection between politics and retail trade — with the shared need to constantly earn the trust of citizens and consumers as the common thread — was highlighted by Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his address to the General Assembly of the Hellenic Association of Retail Enterprises (SELPE). The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of respecting the customer, drawing a direct parallel to the political sphere, where, as he noted, there is no room for arrogance and no one can be taken for granted. In the same vein, he stressed that the government itself cannot consider itself irreplaceable.
“In both politics and retail, no mistake is forgiven once the customer has left the checkout,” the Prime Minister said pointedly, while also underlining that citizens must genuinely feel they are benefiting from the economy’s positive performance.
Mr. Mitsotakis spoke about the need for adaptability and speed, noting that conditions change rapidly and that decisions cannot be indefinitely deferred. “Things next year will not be the same as they are today. That applies to both of us,” he said characteristically, stressing that businesses and government alike must be prepared to take risks and make decisions. “If we wait to make decisions, events will leave us far behind,” was his key message.
Mitsotakis: “Good economic performance is not enough – citizens must feel the benefits of growth in their daily lives”
A significant part of the Prime Minister’s address focused on the economy, and in particular on citizens’ disposable income. He stated that a primary goal must be to close the gap between Greece and the rest of Europe in terms of disposable income as quickly as possible. Economic stabilization, he argued, is a prerequisite — but the real challenge now is ensuring that the economy’s positive trajectory translates into tangible benefits for households.
“Good economic performance is not enough,” was the defining message of his intervention, with the Prime Minister stressing the need for citizens to feel the benefits of economic growth in their everyday lives.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis also placed particular emphasis on digital transformation, identifying the evolution of the gov.gr platform into the age of artificial intelligence as a central priority. The goal, he stressed, is for public digital services to advance to a new level by harnessing the full potential of artificial intelligence.
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