Pavlos Marinakis: MPs stand as candidates despite the lifting of their immunity

The Prime Minister announced yesterday that the government supports citizens with actions, as the economy of our country has moved from the era of deficits to the era of surpluses and from uncertainty to stability.

These announcements have four clear messages:

First:Greece is one of only five countries in the European Union that have the possibility to take additional measures in favour of citizens because it is one of only five countries (along with Cyprus, Denmark, Ireland and Portugal) that have recorded a budget surplus. The other countries are running deficits and 9 countries have entered into an excessive deficit procedure and are forced to either cut spending or raise taxes.

Second:As shown by the ELSTAT data, the surplus that created the space needed to take these measures is due to economic growth, lower unemployment, increased investment and an effective fight against tax evasion, not to overtaxation as the opposition wants to regurgitate. Because contrary to their false claims, this government has reduced or abolished 83 direct and indirect taxes.

Third: We give as much as we can and as much as the country’s economy and, above all, the European rules allow us. Unlike the failed practices of “there is money” and “give it all”, we take these measures responsibly, ensuring fiscal stability and making sure that the measures we take reach the pockets of citizens and meet another necessary condition: that of fiscal sustainability. Simply put, the Mitsotakis government will not choose to be temporarily pleasant by sending the bill to future generations.

Teterton:Achieving a primary surplus allows our country to cover the costs of servicing the public debt. As a result, in 2025 Greece’s public debt fell by 8 percentage points, recording the fastest rate of deceleration in the whole of Europe.

This prudent policy, which relieves the burden on citizens while reducing public debt at record rates, is the legacy of the government of the New Democracy and Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The measures include:

The extension of the 20-cent subsidy for diesel on the network for the month of May.

– The extension until August of the subsidy of fertilizers with 15% of the value of their purchase invoices.

– The extraordinary aid to families with children, amounting to 150 euros for each child, which covers almost 80% of families with children.

– The increase to 300 euros net of the aid to low pensioners, uninsured elderly and disabled people, paid every November on a permanent and annual basis. At the same time, its perimeter is extended, now covering 85% of pensioners over 65 years of age.

– The increase in income limits so that one rent per year is returned to more people. A total of more than 1 million tenants will be supported, i.e. 86% of the total.

– The possibility of joining the extrajudicial mechanism and debts from 5,000 to 10,000 euros.

– The possibility for debts that became overdue up to December 2023 to be eligible, now, to join a 72 instalment scheme, provided that any new overdue debts after 2023 are repaid or settled.

-Finally, the seizure of a debtor’s bank account can now be lifted if 25% of the debt has been repaid and other obligations to the tax administration have been settled.

Macron visit

The President of France Emmanuel Macron will visit Athens on April 24 and 25. The visit is of particular importance as it constitutes an important step in further deepening an already close bilateral relationship.

In this context, it is expected that new areas of cooperation will be included that meet the increased demands of the current situation, while the key role of Greek-French cooperation in the dialogue on the future of Europe and the European defence and security framework will be highlighted.

Support for livestock farmers on Lesvos

A package of measures to tackle the effects of foot-and-mouth disease and support producers on Lesvos was announced by Minister of Rural Development and Food Margaritis Schinas, specifying that the plan combines already activated measures with new interventions that complement the overall framework of crisis management.

The interventions cover the whole production chain and concern both direct damage and indirect losses. More specifically, they concern:

– Compensation for fallen stock (up to €250), covering all affected farmers and payment of aid per animal, in line with the current framework.

– Compensation for loss of income,

– Aid for increased feed costs, for all producers within the restriction zones.

– New specific compensation for milk destroyed or not produced as a result of the measures.

Parallel:

– €8 million of funding has been approved for cheese enterprises.

– The controlled resumption of exports of mature cheeses under strict biosecurity protocols is being promoted.

– Veterinary services are being reinforced with additional staff, including through the dispatch of veterinarians from ELGO DIMITRA and the activation of military veterinarians.

At the same time, strict surveillance and control measures remain in place, with emphasis on compliance with biosecurity rules, which are a key prerequisite for the effectiveness of the interventions.

Greece has completed a first round of humanitarian and development assistance to Lebanon, through the Hellenic Aid of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, remaining consistent in its role as a pillar of stability and solidarity in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Our country has allocated €300,000 as an emergency financial contribution to the Humanitarian Fund for Lebanon of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. A move that ensures the immediate funding of field actions for the relief of the affected people.

In addition, in close cooperation with the World Health Organization, Greece is providing €500,000 to support the Lebanese health system. The funding is for the implementation of a programme that will cover the hospitalisation needs of vulnerable patients for one year, as well as the supply of necessary medical equipment.

Also, the transport and delivery of 3 tons of humanitarian aid to Beirut was successfully completed, in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defence. The material, which includes medical supplies, food, water and essentials, was officially handed over from the Embassy of Greece in Beirut to the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs and the High Relief Committee for distribution to the most vulnerable population groups.

Platform opens for “Neighborhood Nannies”

The platform for the registration of guardians for the “Neighborhood Nannies” program, implemented by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, opens on Monday, April 27.

The main objective of the initiative is to support families and reconcile professional and personal lives by providing care services for infants and toddlers aged 2 months to 2.5 years.

Following a successful pilot implementation in 62 municipalities, where 925 cooperation agreements were signed, the programme is being extended throughout the country.

Care is provided either in the family home or in the custodian’s premises, upon agreement with the parents.

The beneficiaries of the programme are working mothers in the public and private sectors, freelancers and self-employed women, fathers only when they exercise exclusive parental care, any person to whom exclusive custody has been awarded by court order and student mothers. Unemployed mothers who have been registered for three months with the CIFA are also eligible.

According to Elena Rapti, Deputy Minister of State for Social Cohesion & Family responsible for Equality & Human Rights, who is in charge of the implementation of the programme, “The role of the programme is twofold: on the one hand, it helps mothers to remain active professionally after the birth of their child and, on the other hand, it creates new employment opportunities for women and men who wish to work as custodians/custodians, with income and insurance”.

Applications for Social Tourism

Applications for participation in the 2026-2027 Social Tourism Programme for Employees and Unemployed Persons of DYPA have begun.

The programme will start on 18 May 2026, earlier than ever before, will run for 13 months and will involve 300.000 vouchers, with a budget of €50 million.

With the voucher, which is a unique number for each beneficiary and beneficiary individually, beneficiaries can spend up to 6 nights in accommodation of their choice from the “Register of Providers” of the DYPA, upon request, with a small private contribution.

On the islands of Leros, Lesvos, Chios, Kos, Samos & Rhodes,beneficiaries can spend up to 10 nights free of charge with zero private contribution, while in the municipalities of Northern Evia and Evros as well as in Thessaly, except Sporades, they can spend up to 12 nights free of charge.

Subsidy rates are increased by 20% for the peak month of August, as well as for the Christmas and Easter periods. The increased subsidy applies throughout the year for accommodation in North Evia, Evros and Thessaly, except for the Sporades.

In addition to accommodation in tourist accommodation, ferry tickets are also subsidised. The participation is 25%, while for people with disabilities the tickets are free.

The prime minister is currently meeting with European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kosh at the Mansion House.

In the afternoon, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will travel to Cyprus, where he will attend a working dinner hosted by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in the framework of the informal European Council meeting, and on Friday he will take part in the proceedings of the meeting.