Fierce criticism of the opposition for outbidding each other on benefits, proposing free tickets on public transportation, was voiced by government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis.
As he specifically stated in his remarks on Open, the opposition focuses on benefits without explaining how the fiscal space required to finance them will be created. “What the opposition is doing—the two rivals of the official opposition, at least according to the polls— reminds me of people discussing another family—where they’ll go on vacation, what house they’ll buy, without anyone having told them whether they can afford all of that,” he noted.
The government spokesperson argued that the discussion cannot be limited solely to where resources will be directed, but must also include how new wealth will be generated. “The opposition talks about where money will be spent and how it will be spent, without describing how the conditions will be created to make the pie grow even bigger so that all this money can be distributed,” he noted.
As he said, no one disagrees with measures that support citizens; however, the difference lies in how the necessary resources are secured. “No one is opposed to anything that helps people. We all want other taxes to be reduced; we all want even more to be given out. The difference between us and the other parties is that we outline and implement policies that grow the pie, increase state revenue, and at the end of the day create the conditions for measures that help society,” he emphasized.
Tax breaks
Responding specifically to proposals for free tickets, Mr. Marinakis countered with the tax breaks that have been enacted for young workers. “For every free ticket proposed by Mr. Androulakis, we are eliminating taxes for all young people across the country up to age 25. It’s money that a young person can spend however they want. We lowered the tax rate from 29% to zero, and for people up to 30 years old, to 9%,” he stated.
He argued at this point that these specific measures were not well received by the opposition parties when they were announced. “These measures—the elimination of the tax and the tax cuts—were not applauded by the opposition. They did not welcome with the obvious positive attitude a policy that concerns all the activities of a young person,” he said.
Revenue first
Regarding PASOK, he noted: “PASOK says it is coming to govern the country. Last time, they were talking about a four-day workweek. It’s worth taking a look at Mr. Androulakis’s first proposal, before the filters kicked in. Then they realized it and pulled it back. A month later came the second flash in the pan,” he noted characteristically.
Mr. Marinakis clarified that he does not dispute the opposition’s right to submit policy proposals, arguing, however, that the essence of the disagreement lies in the order in which the measures are implemented.
“I’m not saying they don’t have the right or that they can’t submit proposals. Any measure that helps the people, in principle, finds agreement from me, the prime minister, and the government. What is our difference? We are implementing a policy that first brings revenue into the state coffers, which the opposition denounces as increased tax revenue. And once we bring revenue to the state through our policy—and I hope we can bring in even more—we give it back to the citizens. That is the correct order,” he said.
Elsewhere, Pavlos Marinakis expressed the government’s expectation that the decline in international oil prices would be immediately passed on to consumers. He emphasized that the government is closely monitoring developments and expects to see the corresponding reductions immediately reflected in the prices paid by citizens. “We expect—not merely as observers but from a position of direct oversight—that consumers and citizens will see the corresponding price reductions. Some steps have already been taken, and we’re really waiting in the wings,” he said.
At the same time, he left open the possibility of government intervention in the event that market distortions are identified. “The planned interventions will take place, though I hope they won’t be necessary. When the market adapts to the new circumstances, then the state does not need to intervene,” he noted.
