A comprehensive tax reform package with significant social benefits is expected to be presented tonight at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) 2025 by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The announcements will include tax cuts for the middle class, support measures for families, workers, pensioners, and uniformed personnel, as well as interventions addressing housing issues. The Prime Minister is also expected to address geopolitical developments and outline key political challenges.
Specifically, at 7:30 PM at the “Ioannis Vellidis” Conference Center in Thessaloniki, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will deliver his speech, focusing on economic measures to be implemented by 2026 and reforms planned with a 2030 horizon.
In the economic section, the Prime Minister is expected to announce tax cuts and support measures worth €1.7 billion, adding to the €1 billion package presented last April for low-income pensioners and renters. According to sources, he will outline a “major tax reform” aimed at increasing disposable income across society, emphasizing that citizens – public and private employees, freelancers, and pensioners – “will see real increases in their pockets.”
In the political section, Mr. Mitsotakis is expected to reference the volatile international environment, citing crises in France and the Netherlands, while promoting political certainty and economic stability as “keys” for Greece. He will also emphasize that reforms extending beyond the four-year term require broader consensus.
The renovation of TIF will also hold a special place in his speech. The Prime Minister clarified that the fair will remain in downtown Thessaloniki, assured workers they “have no reason for concern,” and committed that the project will proceed at a rapid pace.
Marinakis on Parapolitika 90.1 at TIF: Good news coming for freelancers – Permanent tax cuts for families
Earlier, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis visited the Parapolitika Group pavilion at the Thessaloniki International Fair and spoke on Parapolitika 90.1 with Thanasis Fouskidis and Penny Avramidi about the Prime Minister’s planned announcements regarding tax measures and combating tax evasion.
As he emphasized, “Today the Prime Minister will announce a series of tax cuts, both indirect and direct, with permanent characteristics. We will have tax reductions, with emphasis for those who have children.” He underlined that the Mitsotakis government addressed tax evasion to boost state revenues, adding that there will be announcements for freelancers, who will hear good news regarding taxation.
Regarding former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, he noted: “It’s unfair to society to deal with yesterday instead of today and tomorrow. We have democracy, and whoever wants to return will be judged by the citizens.” He also emphasized: “Truth is not toxic – pointing out that a politician legislated the largest prison exodus is not an attack, but a recording of facts.”
Excerpts from Pavlos Marinakis’ interview on Parapolitika 90.1
Among other things, he highlighted:
P.MARINAKIS: Today we will hear from the Prime Minister a series of tax cuts, indirect and direct, with permanent characteristics. We will have direct tax reductions for all citizens, and these taxes will be reduced with greater emphasis for those who have children.
P.MARINAKIS: The Mitsotakis government is the first government that turned combating tax evasion from something that never became reality into a policy that brought results, revenues to the state, and thus, along with job creation, we have the ability to have increased revenues without raising taxes, to give them back to society. From there on, there were significant policies that had a political cost, and it’s necessary to listen to this part of society, the freelancers. The philosophy of combating tax evasion will not change, we will continue to address tax evasion with tangible policies, but yes, as much as we can through our interventions reduce burdens, make distribution increasingly fair, and remove burdens from people who have particular difficulties, we will do it. So yes, expect some announcements related to freelancers not only at the deemed income level but also at the taxation level. They too will hear very good news today from the Prime Minister’s speech.
P.MARINAKIS: We usually discuss every year what a prime minister will say, but I want to focus on two points: first, it has great value that the money was found and was not found from “bloody surpluses” as in previous governments but from conditions of growth and combating tax evasion, and second, Kyriakos Mitsotakis does what he says in Thessaloniki – because we’ve been burned by Thessaloniki programs in this country – he makes it happen.
Regarding Mr. Alexis Tsipras
P.MARINAKIS: It greatly wrongs society and people’s needs and what citizens expect to hear by dealing with yesterday, which society has judged, instead of today and tomorrow, which is what the Prime Minister will announce today and what this government has done so far. We choose to look at today and tomorrow, the present and future, not yesterday which was judged by society. Of course we have democracy, whoever wants to return, returns and is judged by citizens. The second thing I want to say is that truth without characterizations and slanders, without the “either us or them” or “I’ll bury you 2 meters underground,” these are SYRIZA’s works, truth is not toxic. Pointing out that a political leader, a prime minister legislated something that led to the most massive release of serious offenders is not toxic criticism, it’s presenting the truth, and truth must be told no matter how much some want to distort it by rewriting it during this period. When you’ve done this as prime minister, you have two solutions: one is to apologize, the other solution is to remain silent. Mr. Tsipras chose – something his own Justice Minister, Mr. Kontonis said, I said it as reproduction – to make jokes and humor about a story that is heard by families of victims of these criminals. When families of victims listen to us, it’s good to either apologize or remain silent, but people are interested in the present and new things, not the dark past.
Katsafados on Parapolitika 90.1 at TIF: Prime Minister will announce regional support measures
At the Parapolitika Group pavilion at the Thessaloniki International Fair, Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis Kostas Katsafados spoke on Parapolitika 90.1 with Thanasis Fouskidis and Penny Avramidi about the different needs of urban centers versus regional Greece.
As he emphasized, “in the regions, what concerns them is how to strengthen their local area.” He added that the Prime Minister, as someone who knows the country’s problems, will announce measures tonight aimed at strengthening the regions and supporting local communities.
Kefalogiannis on Parapolitika 90.1 at TIF: Mitsotakis announcements coming for civil protection – 30% increase in fire service recruitment
For his part, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Giannis Kefalogiannis, who visited the Parapolitika Group pavilion at the Thessaloniki International Fair, discussed the ministry’s actions and the fire season.
As he noted on Parapolitika 90.1 with Thanasis Fouskidis and Penny Avramidi, “the Prime Minister will say quite a few things about the ministry as well.” He also recalled the €100 increase in the hazard allowance for firefighters, adding: “Let’s wait a few hours for the Prime Minister.”
Regarding summer fires, he emphasized it was a difficult summer, as large areas have burned across Europe. “Our country is moving within the 20-year average – in Great Britain many areas have burned, despite a humid climate,” he explained.
During the fire season, 3,500 fires started, which were dealt with by firefighters and relevant services. The Minister also emphasized there’s a 30% increase in Fire Service recruitment, strengthening its operational capacity.
Excerpts from Giannis Kefalogiannis’ interview on Parapolitika 90.1
Among other things, he highlighted:
G.KEFALOGIANNIS: The Prime Minister will make a very specific delineation of things we will see in the coming months, and I’m certain that for the ministry, directly or indirectly, he will say quite a few very important things, mainly for personnel.
JOURNALIST: Are we talking about salary increases…
G.KEFALOGIANNIS: Let’s wait a few hours, but let me remind that this year there has been a €100 increase in the hazard allowance, and through a legislative regulation that passed from us a few months ago, out-of-station allowances for seasonal workers, permanent staff, and generally all Fire Service personnel were doubled or tripled, depending on category.
Regarding this year’s summer fires
G.KEFALOGIANNIS: It was a difficult summer, first of all if you look at Europe’s overall map, by today triple the areas of the 20-year average have burned. It’s about 10 million acres while usually about 3 million burn by this time. Our country currently moves within the 20-year average and I think this shows something. For example, if you look at the United Kingdom, which has more burned areas than Greece has for this year’s season, which is a country with humid climate and north of our country, and generally if you see what happened in Spain, Slovakia, Portugal, in our Balkan periphery, I believe that based on these data, proportionally speaking, our country has done well.
G.KEFALOGIANNIS: I say it’s a difficult summer because we have over 6,300 fire starts since the beginning of the year, if you look at the strict fire season we’ve exceeded 3,500. These are fires that are dealt with daily by the men and women of the Fire Service and of course all involved agencies. All these people in the field have done excellent work, given their best to achieve today’s result.
G.KEFALOGIANNIS: Year by year we certainly become more fortified, but no one can say they’ll be 100% fortified or ready because when you see weather phenomena are such that year by year they become more difficult, no matter how much equipment you get, there will certainly be cases where you’ll be called to face very difficult situations.
G.KEFALOGIANNIS: This year 18,000 men and women operate in the Fire Service, six years ago this number was 14,000, meaning we have a 30% increase in human resources, and we also have a very significant difference this year compared to last year regarding drones – we have double the drones for surveillance and prevention.
About seasonal firefighters
G.KEFALOGIANNIS: With seasonal firefighters we’re in open dialogue on various issues. This year for the first time they work for 8 months instead of 6, and we’re also discussing a series of their institutional issues, such as their health coverage, and I think in this case we have common ground to see many other issues as well.
TIF 2025: What’s expected to be at the center of the Prime Minister’s speech
Tax cuts aimed at strengthening disposable income for the middle class and families with children are included in the announcements Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will make Saturday from the TIF podium.
At the center are:
- Radical changes in family taxation with children, with significant cuts from the first child and emphasis on large families.
- Rental income tax reduction.
- Corrective interventions in freelancers’ deemed income and reduction of living standards presumptions.
Additionally, the Prime Minister will announce measures for real increases for pensioners with personal difference as well as improvements in uniformed personnel salaries.
Interventions to address the housing crisis will have a special place, aimed at increasing available properties either through social exchange or by utilizing properties that remain closed.
At the top of the agenda is changing the production model, supporting industry and enhancing extroversion. In the past year, strategic investments worth €2.5 billion have been approved in the industrial sector.
