All -mostly- of the opposition, after the announcement of the measures by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has come out and complained that what is being given is peanuts as well as that the government is overtaxing and returning little to the people.
The logic of give it all is once again being put on the opposition agenda, while parties and leaders are once again handing out billions by appealing to citizens. In fact, opposition parties appear to be claiming that there is more money hidden somewhere and the government is not returning it to the citizens because it probably doesn’t want to be liked.
But the truth is that Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been clear since 2019 – and in his pledges before the then elections – noting that he does not intend to mortgage the country’s future for any reason. He was also clear that he does not intend to promise or give more than he can in the context of the EU’s fiscal rules that our country is also obliged to implement. And it does so in a way that spreads the dividend of stabilisation and growth of the economy, although it is reasonable and expected that it is done in a way that must take into account both international developments and crises and that there is some… cavanza on the side, as they say, to enable the state to deal with emergencies.
There is no politician who doesn’t want the… hosanna as it follows from the logic of give-it-all. The taking of measures that are of temporary political benefit but also of temporary benefit to the citizens themselves and, by extension, to the country.
A lot has already been said about the surplus. There are some billions of euros floating around in the air without taking into account the ceilings in terms of what the state can spend in terms of support. The same is true with regard to the allegations of early debt repayment that the government is implementing with a view to easing the burden on citizens.
The reference by Pavlos Marinakis to the legacy of this government is perhaps the answer to all that is being said. A legacy that concerns the younger people, their children, and perhaps some of the older ones as the goal is not to pass on debts and obligations as has been done all the previous years resulting in the more than a decade of crisis that has hit the country. If there is one thing that will remain it is this.
With debt reduction and especially with the fact that the country appears to be living off its own revenues. To meet the needs and also be able to support society and maintain social cohesion by building for tomorrow.
If there is one more thing that will remain, it is also the fact that in recent years when citizens hear about the measures being taken they know that these are measures to support and strengthen their income and not new taxes, pension and salary cuts, as was the case in the past.
Yes, the opposition is not looking for something positive as what they want is to be labelled as the one to provide solutions and claim victory in the next election. Fair enough. But it is one thing to do this and another to show the country on the brink of disaster, but at the same time claim that there is room to give much more.
* This article was published in the print edition of “Manifesto”
