Christos Dimas has been placed in charge of the hypocrisy, the projects infrastructure and the economy, calling on the opposition to respect judicial decisions.

Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, made an intervention through the frequency of ERTnews.

During his appearance on “Live Now”, the minister reviewed the government’s strategy for infrastructure projects, new economic measures, but also the current political news, focusing on issues such as the OPEKEPE, fuel prices and the situation in the transportations of Athens and Thessaloniki.

Special emphasis was placed on the Result of the Supreme Court on the issue of telephone tapping. Addressing the leadership of PASOK, Dimas adopted a clear position on the independence of the institutions.

Specifically, referring to the wiretapping case, he said:

“First of all, I will tell you that I am not here to comment on the prosecutor’s act. But what I can say is that we either trust the judiciary or we don’t. So it is up to Mr Androulakis and PASOK to decide whether they trust or do not trust justice.”

OPEKEPE

On the issue of OPEKEPE: “These cases are being referred to the judiciary. So it is the courts that will decide. The reason why I have also said publicly that I am in favour of lifting immunity is precisely because I would not want, if I were in the position of my colleagues, to think that Parliament is coming to cover me. I would want to be vindicated in the justice system, in court, just like other citizens.

In this case, I think the 13 criminal cases are not of any great interest. But that’s the process. We obviously respect the European Public Prosecutor and the reason why he brought these cases and that’s why we are going normally, we trust the judiciary and I am sure that the judiciary will make the decisions that it has to make.”

The European Public Prosecutor

About the statements made by European Public Prosecutor Ms. Covesi and the criticisms that the government is interfering with her work: “The government has not interfered, nor does the government intend to interfere, and there is no intolerance. I think the government spokesman has clarified this in the clearest possible way.

Whether there is a motive or not is something that in this case is not a matter of concern to us, precisely because and we have stated it in every way we trust the judiciary and the European judiciary.

But we are not here to judge the personal views that the European Public Prosecutor may have.

We are here to look at the substance of the issues. So even if it is politically motivated, it is something that we are committed to making sure that the procedures are followed as they should be.”

The new measures

Talking about the government’s new measures: “Since 2019 to date we have either abolished or reduced, over eighty-eight taxes, 83 to be precise. From then on, we have made permanent permanent increases in the minimum wage. It was at 650 euros and we have said that by the end of our mandate in 2027 it will be at 950 euros. So we have a very large increase. There has already been an increase of 41 percent.

At the same time, trying to take advantage of the fiscal improvement and here I want to emphasize this thing or the surplus, the “bloody surplus”, as the opposition described it, where does it come from?

It does not come from new taxes, we have less taxes. It comes from tackling tax evasion and growing the economy. That’s something we need to be reminded of again. The measures that we take are always done with fiscal balance in mind.

Over the last seven years we have had a reduction in public debt of 60% of GDP. This is the largest reduction in public debt ever in a European country and this is something that is very important. It is actually what we are leaving for future generations, for our children.”

He went on to say that: “they should have known in the opposition that now from 2026 there is a spending limit. It is institutionalised at the European Union level. So even to exceed the spending limit that each state has, you have to come up with positive measures. By positive measures we mean basically extra taxation actually to be able to justify the extra spending.

So I think having the surplus is very important. Those surpluses should not be at the expense of society. But being able to use them in a way that does not disturb the fiscal balance is a priority for all of us.”

Fuel

On the issue of the impact on fuel prices due to the crisis in the Middle East, Dimas said: “Aviation is being affected on a global scale due to the developments we have seen in the Middle East in recent times. This is something that no one is disputing.

In fact, it is true that in some countries some airlines have reduced flight schedules. There are some effects even on the tickets because of the increase in the fuel of the aircraft.

In Greece we do not have such an impact, we have these effects to a lesser extent. If this situation with the war continues, we will definitely have to act more drastically. But at this stage, we are in consultation at the level of the European Union and with the European Commission, but also with everyone, with all the member states.”

The polls

Commenting on the polls,he noted that: “indeed we do look at the polls, they are important as snapshots of the moment. But in any case, we will be judged on our work as a whole, on the course of the four years, at the end of our term of office. So, what we are looking at with much greater interest is to implement what we have promised, what we have committed to the Greek citizens.

So we are committed to doing our job properly. Beyond that, at the end of the term, as I said, the citizens will judge whether they think that the country’s course has been positive in recent years or whether there is an alternative that is better.”

The E-65 and BOAK

As for the progress of the E-65 and BOAK infrastructure projects, he said: “E65 is the motorway that connects Central Greece with Thessaly and Western Macedonia and Epirus. The last 45 kilometres of the northern section of the E65 remain. It is essentially the section that connects Kalambaka to Grevena, with the Grevena junction to the Egnatia Odos. In the next few months, in the summer, these will also be given to traffic, so we will connect some parts of the country that may not have been so connected.

As for the Northern Road Axis of Crete. I want to say that we signed the concession contract on 9 May 2025. About a year ago. We have proceeded to activate the option. That is the extension of the North Road Axis of Crete and to the west, from Chania to Kissamos, seven months earlier than the predetermined, we have already implemented since last summer two road safety measures from Chania to Kolymbari, from the Heraklion Landfill to the passes.

And road safety measures similar to what the Greek government had taken since December 2023 in Patras Pyrgos, where it had zero frontal collisions, we reduced fatal accidents by 85% and by the summer we will have an additional five road safety points, so we will have 131 kilometers of road safety on the Northern Road Axis of Crete.

Thessaloniki Metro

On this issue, Dimas commented that: “The Thessaloniki Metro, first of all I want to say that it is one of the most modern metro in Europe, one of the most beautiful if not the most beautiful at least of those I have visited, as it manages to combine the balance of highlighting our cultural heritage and the functionality of a modern metro system. And in the 15 months that the metro has been in operation we have managed to reduce the traffic in the city centre by 15%.

The extension to Kalamaria, the five additional stations and these will also be in the summer, but it is a technically difficult project that has many difficulties, but in the summer they will be opened to traffic.

At the same time, the elevated expressway, in Thessaloniki, an innovative, pioneering project not only for the Greek but also for the standards of Southern Europe, as it will double the volume of vehicles that can be served on the Thessaloniki ring road. Right now we are at 50% of the construction scope.”

Attica’s traffic

Finally, on the traffic problem of Attica, he stressed that: “We are examining with the relevant ministries and with everyone the best possible solutions for the whole of Attica, whether they have to do with the extension of the traffic police measures, or have to do with new infrastructure projects, such as the triple junction of Skaramanga, such as the point intervention we are making in Metamorfosi, such as other important proposals. The renewal of the bus fleet or the progress of work on line 4 of the metro.”