About the new bill that goes to public consultation in May, putting an end to hidden charges and patches relating to consumer credit, Takis Theodorikakos, on Parapolitika 90.1 FM.
“This issue concerns consumer and repair loans, cards, anything without collateral guarantees up to €100,000. As you can see, it is something that concerns a lot of people,” Theodoricakos said, noting that “the logic of legislating in accordance with – but with our own content and priorities – two European Directives, has to do with making sure that consumers when they take out a loan“.
The minister stressed that the bill:
– It puts an end to the fine print regime.
– It puts an end to abusive behaviour to the detriment of consumers.
– Gives the consumer the ability to withdraw from a contract within 14 days.
– Gives the right when such contracts are made through applications, for the citizen to request to speak to the lending institution.
– A cap is put on the surcharge from such a loan during the period the consumer repays it, ranging from 30% to 50%.
Theodoricakos clarified that “all this will apply from the moment the bill is passed and afterwards. It is not retroactive because it would create huge problems and injustices between people who have fully met their obligations versus others who have not done so to date.”
On the opposition criticism that the government is implementing European Directives and not its own legislation, the Minister of Development noted that “this is related to the general situation of a prolonged election period until the polls in a year’s time. The opposition has the “freedom” to say whatever it wants to hit the government with lies, slander and inaccuracies. The reality is that there are two European Directives that stipulate that they must be implemented by November 2026 at the latest. But the exact content of the legislation is the responsibility of each country. For example, the rate of the 30% to 50% surcharge is not provided for in the European Directive, each country decides what it wants. We studied the situation, we saw what other countries are doing and we said we will legislate the 30% to 50% limit. It will be regulated by a ministerial decision after a recommendation and consultation with the Bank of Greece. The opposition is not saying that. And the half-truths in these cases are bald-faced lies.”
Theodoricakos added that “these regulations, which we are implementing in the most positive way, should – and I hope – be voted for by the opposition parties and not hidden behind pretexts. Instead of saying that they are good policies, they say that they are European directives. The content is our choice. Let them respond: Do they agree or disagree with this choice?”
As for the OPEKEPE case, he stressed that “for this case, as for all others, the justice has been taken up and the truth will shine. For OPEKEPE, in particular, it is a scandal because for many years many people received money they were not entitled to. The justice should find them, return the steal back to the public coffers and those who have committed misconduct should face the consequences of the law. But that is different from what our MPs are investigating. I do not see – in my view – that they have committed offences nor that there are any criminal charges. I am sure they are all innocent.”
About former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Theodoricakos said: “There will be changes in the opposition. Mr Tsipras is not an unknown person, he has his history and the fact that he is forming a new party is a confession of failure of Syriza. It will be hard to find new people for a new trajectory. In my perception, it will have a tough battle with PASOK for second place.”
About Ms. Karstianou, he noted that she enjoyed great popularity, not as a political figure, but as a woman who had the given support of everyone, having lost her most beloved person, her child, in the national tragedy of Tempe. “But politics and how society will welcome her new venture is another thing. Its first views have not been received positively so far, so I don’t think it will have any serious impact on the political scene,” he said.
About New Democracy, he stressed that “it is a great popular party that unites Greeks. This party has effectively dealt with allcrisises with hard workand responsibility. We are fighting a big battle and it is normal to have different opinions and positions. We have to compose and move forward together in unity.”
