Development Minister Takis Theodoricakos has unveiled a consumer credit bill, which will be put to public consultation in May and voted on in June.
The Development Ministry’s bill on consumer credit, which puts an end to abusive behaviour against borrowers , was discussed by Development Minister Takis Theodoricakos, in an interview with ERT, calling on the opposition parties to vote for it.
“Concerning thousands of households, the bill will be put to public consultation in May and will be voted on in June, in application of two European directives. With the difference that we are taking this a lot further down the road. We are talking about loans up to 100,000 euros without collateral,” Theodoricakos stressed.
The Minister of Development pointed out that “we are putting an end to fine print, so that the citizen is informed about his obligations. There is a framework that will vary between 30% and 50%, on how much the initial capital of the loan signed by the borrower can be increased and the final percentage will be set by ministerial decision always in cooperation with the governor of the Bank of Greece. Also, the citizen will be given the option to withdraw if within 14 days they do not want to proceed with the loan agreement, and we are giving people the right to request to have direct contact with a person representing the bank rather than an application. It will apply from 20 November because that is what the European directive requires. It is not retroactive because it would be unfair to those who were compliant versus those who were not.”
On the measure of the cap on profit margin, Mr. Theodoricakos said it was tough on the market, but fair in this very difficult international context. “As far as food is concerned, our orientation is that the measure will be extended beyond June 30 to brake this situation, while for fuel it will depend on how things go with the war. If prices balance out, it will be withdrawn. If not, then we will have to be vigilant to see what more we can do.”
About the inspections being carried out by the new Independent Authority’s control mechanisms, he said they are serious, intensive and relate to the whole market. “I feel vindicated for this reform,” the Minister said, stressing that according to the data available to him, of the €21 million in fines imposed by DIMEA before the creation of the new Authority, 99.5% has been collected. “Therefore, the fines are being paid in full,” he said.
Theodoricakos also referred to the incidents at the AUTH, stressing that “we have been suffering for many years with occupations, violence and ideologies. There was resistance and opposition for many, many years with the police entering the university. At the time I was Minister of Public Order, the library was being built at the UAS. At that time I had to install a platoon of riot police for a year, because before that every month some anarchists were tearing it down. The police can and should intervene in the university when there are violent situations. Significant steps forward have been made and I think it goes without saying that the police should be present wherever and whenever they need to intervene, as in any public space. These must be accepted by all.”
Finally, he commented on the controversy between PASOK and the democracies. “The political system must show calmness in the face of the polls. I don’t believe that the election results will have much to do with what we see at the moment. People are giving an answer that is not binding. But at the ballot box there is no second opinion. Polling companies do their job and should not be demonized. One cannot look at the result of a poll and see the result of an election. There are such serious issues that affect people’s lives and parties are required to express their thoughts, ideas, criticism and not chase polling companies,” Theodoricakos said.
