The government’s restart comes into focus, against the backdrop of the TIF package announced by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with the government spokesperson, Pavlos Marinakis, speaking of very significant messages sent by the Prime Minister that concern everyone.
“The biggest mistake you can make in politics is to proceed with closed ears,” he initially emphasized, speaking on SKAI. “What I saw on Saturday was a Prime Minister who presented a comprehensive plan that starts from the past, extends to the present and targets the future.”
Marinakis on Mitsotakis TIF package: “The boldest tax reform, doesn’t turn a blind eye to anyone”
“There is a cycle in this policy: a Prime Minister grows the pie without imposing taxes, by tackling tax evasion, creating jobs and through economic development – these are the 3 sources of revenue. Investments increased, taxes decreased and following this, the Prime Minister presents the boldest tax reform. And it is bold, because it doesn’t turn a blind eye to anyone.”
Responding to criticism of Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ announcements, Mr. Marinakis acknowledged that people are going through difficult times, while referring to 3 basic examples of cases that benefit from the government’s reforms.
“A four-member family with €30,000 income. They will receive €1,200, if they had 3 children €2,100. Do these people become rich? No, but what difference does it make? Those I mentioned are not only private employees – they are also public employees, retirees and freelancers who will see it in their tax settlement,” he emphasized and added:
“A freelancer will have the following savings: if they have €20,000 income, they save approximately €1,100 per year in tax. Because from 10 to 20 thousand, instead of 22%, the state comes and reduces it to 9%. Or a 22-23 year old from a public vocational school or a young delivery worker, whom you take to zero taxation, saves €2,000.”
“If we take just one measure for high prices, like VAT reduction,” he noted, “in other countries it hasn’t worked and with the fiscal cost it has, nothing else would be given to anyone,” he noted. “Europe gives you the possibility for targeted discounts with reduced VAT on the islands.”
New attack by Marinakis on Tsipras – What he said about polls
When asked whether the TIF measures are capable of strengthening the government’s popularity, the government spokesperson emphasized:
“Polls say one positive and one negative thing about us. One is that we are the first second-term government that has such a political difference from the other parties – it’s not something to throw away, I don’t remember another government with such resilience. However, there is also a distance, if we look at vote estimation, from the percentage we want to be re-elected as government. How do you cover this distance? By running with your head down and completing what people voted you for.”
Regarding Alexis Tsipras, he avoided saying much, commenting however that “the country got tired and suffered a lot from labels.”
“You don’t become centrist or center-right because you give a speech/manifesto or do a rebranding, but based on what you do when you have the opportunity. It is sacred responsibility to be Prime Minister, meaning citizens come and ask you to lead the executive power. So when it was time, he did what he did, with the taxes he imposed, the Katrougalos law etc.”
