Marinakis for Androulakis: Ethical issues arise for his property leased by the State

“We are not raising a question of legality” regarding the property of the family of Nikos Androulakis, which is leased by the Greek State, Pavlos Marinakis stressed, when asked about a relevant publication of mononews.gr. As he said, “if there is such an issue, we will not say it, it is the Justice that is responsible,” however, based on the rhetoric of the president of PASOK -who, among other things, has questioned Justice too many times- questions arise on the moral aspect of the case concerning the collection of 1.2 billion euros in rent.

“How is it possible that Mr. Androulakis, while questioning decisions and institutions, collects millions of euros from the state? And he wants to become prime minister. Consider if today’s publication was about the prime minister or a member of the Southwestern Democratic Party,” he said, adding that in such a case he would be taking questions for a month.

As for PASOK’s intention to take legal action, following a post by Adonis Georgiadis, Pavlos Marinakis called to clarify whether he will turn against the medium that raised the issue or against the Minister of Health. “If it refers to journalists then it is interesting. PASOK adopts reports of journalists’ organisations with or without borders and shouts against SLAPPS. Explain to us how this is consistent with its stance on the report,” the government spokesman added.

“Will we be sued when we raise questions of ethics? Then what are we to say?”, he then asked, noting that “PASOK’s reaction to government officials who merely talk is exaggerated.”

He clarified again that “neither the health minister – as he has already replied – nor we, nor I, representing the government, raise a question of legitimacy because the government has no such authority.”

“We will not become like those who have turned the parliament into a court and endless televised and live hearings”, Pavlos Marinakis concluded.

Introductory statement

The government spokesman’s introductory statement is as follows:

The Prime Minister is in Aachen, Germany where he is currently speaking at the ceremony of the “Charlemagne Prize” award to Mario Draghi.

His presence marks recognition of Greece’s journey from the brink of the abyss to a country of fiscal and reform credibility in Europe – which has been repositioned at the centre of European debates and decisions.

“Under the Mitsotakis government, Greece in recent years has shown impressively how reforms, economic recovery and a pro-European agenda can go hand in hand. The country is now a prime example of how the stabilisation policy that Draghi helped to shape can in the long term create new prospects for growth, investment and social optimism,” the Aachen City Hall said in a statement, while the city’s mayor said the prime minister’s reception was highly symbolic: “Greece was once the ‘problem child’ of the eurozone – today it is an impressive example of renewal and stability.”

The largest increase in real per capita income

Greece achieved the largest increase in real per capita household income, i.e. income allocated to consumption or savings, among OECD countries in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The country recorded a 3.3 percent increase compared to the immediately preceding quarter, while the increase for all OECD member countries was just 0.7 percent, according to data released by the organization.

Increases in net property income and workers’ earnings were key contributors to this development for the country, with the OECD noting that the unemployment rate was reduced to its lowest level since 2009.

Notably, the improvement in disposable income was recorded before the reductions in tax deductions of at least 2 percentage points per bracket for the low and middle classes, announced at the TIF, came into effect at the beginning of 2026.

For 2025 as a whole, real per capita household income increased in Greece by 1.8%. This is more than double the OECD average of 0.8% and much higher than the increases in economies such as France, Germany and the UK.

The change is strongly reflected in the wholesale market. Although southern and eastern Europe is served by fewer interconnectors than the north, Greece has the seventh lowest price so far in 2026. In contrast, in 2019 our country was the most expensive in the European system in terms of wholesale costs, which in turn put pressure on retail providers and ultimately consumers.

The radical improvements that have taken place in the Greek energy market over the last six years, such as the active increase in renewable generation and investments in networks, have contributed to the compression of prices for households and the transformation of our country into a net exporter of electricity.

Electricity prices at European average

Greece’s improved position is reflected in its ability to maintain electricity prices at the European average even in the retail market, and even in purchasing power terms, which neutralise the different price levels between Member States. This is despite the wider increase in energy costs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the particularities caused by insularity.

It is indicative that the final price of electricity for Greek households in purchasing power terms was in the second half of 2025, before the outbreak of the Gulf conflict, at €29.26 per 100 kilowatt-hours, essentially equivalent to the European average which is €29.06 per 100 kilowatt-hours.

Our country actually ranked better than Spain and Portugal, countries often presented as models, but where prices were about 50 and 25 cents, respectively, more expensive than in Greece. Clearly more expensive was Germany, the strongest economy on the Old Continent, where the corresponding price was more than 5 euros higher, at 34.6 euros, while Romania was at the top, where the cost of 100 kilowatt-hours reached 50 euros.

In absolute terms, Greece was the 10th cheapest country among the 27 European Union member states, with the retail energy cost for household consumers estimated at 23.78 euros per 100 kilowatt-hours, while the EU average was 28.96 euros per 100 kWh, almost 22% higher than in Greece.

Community aid to farmers

Exceeding 2 billion euros. €2 billion in Community aid to be paid to farmers by the end of 2026.

To this money, another €1 billion will have to be added from Pillar II for non-payment Integrated Management and Control System (IACS) projects.

Rural Development and Food Minister Margaritis Schinas stressed: “The party is over for the pretenders”, adding that the government is making a break with what has been holding us back. The aim is to regain the credibility of the payment system.

The governor of the Hellenic Revenue Service, Giorgos Pitsilis, spoke of an integrated framework of controls and payments, which actively supports real farmers, supports beneficiaries of aid to be consistent in their obligations and protects the money of Greek and European citizens.

The governor of the Hellenic Revenue Service, Giorgos Pitsilis, spoke of an integrated framework of controls and payments, which actively supports real farmers, supports beneficiaries of aid to be consistent in their obligations and protects the money of Greek and European citizens.

At the same time, the Ministry of Rural Development is bringing order to organic production in order to protect honest producers and consumers. To this end, it is making bold and necessary reforms, modernizing the institutional framework and the control system, with strict sanctions and modern digital tools, in cooperation with the EU.

The Directorate for Combating Organised Crime has recorded significant activity since the start of its operation, up to the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest available data.

Specifically, the DACOE and its Regional Units have tackled a total of 1,146 cases of serious and organised crime. Within the framework of the cases solved, 3,759 perpetrators were charged, of which 2,518 were arrested and brought to justice and 667 of them were remanded in custody.

The estimated damage to the Greek State that has been prevented is estimated at approximately 192 million euros.

During the same period of time, the SAOE tackled a total of 59 cases of organised sports violence, from which a total of 13 criminal organisations and groups were dismantled.

These figures reflect the intensification of operational initiatives to tackle organised crime and violence, with an emphasis on both prevention and more effective suppression of serious forms of offence. The strengthening of specialized services, the deconstruction of criminal organizations and targeted action against sports violence are key pillars of the government’s security policy, aiming to strengthen the sense of protection of citizens and the shielding of public order.

This year’s support of the Ministry of Sports to sports federations has increased by 15.5%, which translates into 4.2 million euros. It touches, in particular, 31.3 million euros in total, for the first time in almost two decades.

To be precise:

At 17.75 million euros, their annual regular subsidy for 2026, from the “Chilon” evaluation programme,

at 11.05 million euros, up from 9.5 million euros.€ 9.5 million last year, is their funding from the taxation of the winnings of gambling players, exclusively for the operation of our national teams of all ages,

in € 2.5 million is the coverage by the Ministry of Sport (also for the first time) of the cost corresponding to the annual use of the sports facilities of the NAC, for training our national teams, which until last year charged the Federations.

“The substantial support of the base of Greek sport is a clear political choice of the government and the Prime Minister himself, Kyriakos Mitsotakis”, stressed the Minister of Sports, Yannis Vroutsis.

Collective Labour Agreements

Two new Collective Labour Agreements were extended – by Ministerial Decision – to all workers in the food and confectionery sectors

They concern, in total, more than 400.000 workers in total, covering the three-year period 2026-2028 and providing for wages up to about 20% above the legal minimum wage.

This is an initiative on the basis of the National Social Agreement on Collective Labour Agreements.

The minimum wage – which we have increased 6 times since 2019 – is the “foundation” of protection for workers. Through Collective Labour Agreements it can be further increased, allowing workers to secure even better working conditions.

We continue to take initiatives to ensure that the economy grows in terms of fairness and that progress translates into substantial benefits for every worker.

Greece is introducing for the first time a comprehensive framework for the safe use of Artificial Intelligence in schools.

The aim of the initiative is for the technology to function as a tool to support learning, not as a substitute for personal effort, critical thinking and the role of the teacher.

Strict safeguards for students and the school community against misinformation, algorithmic distortions, harmful content or misuse of technology are being introduced.

For the first time, explicit prohibitions are introduced for practices such as creating and disseminating deepfake content without consent and producing false bibliographic references or non-existent sources.

Protection of personal data of minors

The emphasis is particularly on the protection of personal data of minors, as the following are explicitly prohibited: the profiling of students and teachers, the processing of personality or behavioural data, and the introduction of sensitive personal data into AI systems.

The protection of minors and ensuring a pedagogically responsible environment for the use of AI in school education is a non-negotiable priority of the Government.

Today, at 19:00, the Prime Minister will attend the special session of the Plenary Session of the Hellenic Parliament, during which the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, will address the House.

Tomorrow, Friday, 15 May, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will deliver a speech at the opening of the 16th Annual Conference of the New Democracy.

Tomorrow, Friday, May 15, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will deliver a speech at the opening of the 16th Regular Congress of the New Democracy.