{"id":12778,"date":"2026-06-25T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/?p=12778"},"modified":"2026-06-25T12:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T09:30:00","slug":"pavlos-marinakis-the-opposition-only-knows-how-to-pander-to-the-masses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/?p=12778","title":{"rendered":"Pavlos Marinakis: The opposition only knows how to pander to the masses"},"content":{"rendered":"

The government spokesperson briefs political editors, Pavlos Marinakis<\/b>. <\/p>\n

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Pavlos Marinakis directed his criticism at Alexis Tsipras, reminding him that he is the prime minister who abolished protection for primary residences, introduced online auctions, and handed over loans to investment funds. <\/p>\n

With the visit by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the Naval Cadet School, where, in collaboration with one of the world\u2019s top universities, MIT, the educational program \u201cMIT-TRITON Summer School: Marine Robotics & Autonomous Systems Training Program,\u201d which covers high-level material on autonomous marine systems, Pavlos Marinakis began his briefing.<\/p>\n

When asked about oil prices, he said that the government is closely monitoring developments.<\/p>\n

As for the case of Dimitris Avramopoulos<\/b>, Pavlos Marinakis said that the New Democracy MP has provided his responses and that the matter is solely in the hands of the judiciary. When asked whether Dimitris Avramopoulos would be on the party\u2019s ballot for the upcoming elections, the government spokesperson replied that this is a decision for the prime minister.<\/p>\n

Emphasis on strengthening education and innovation in the Armed Forces<\/h3>\n

In detail, at the start of his introductory remarks, Pavlos Marinakis mentioned the educational program \u201cMIT-TRITON Summer School: Marine Robotics & Autonomous Systems Training Program\u201d: \u201cThe goal of the program\u2014which is being implemented at the initiative of the Ministry of National Defense by the Hellenic Center for Defense Innovation in collaboration with MIT\u2014is to bring to Greece and assimilate cutting-edge know-howin the field of unmanned maritime systems, both in terms of their design and their operational utilization. Thanks to this transfer of know-how, the Armed Forces\u2019 ability to develop autonomous systems is strengthened, and ELKAK\u2019s broader mission to fosterinnovative solutions<\/b>. \u201cWhat we are seeing today is not a vision of the future. It is a snapshot of the present in a theater of operations that is now changing dramatically,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n

The government spokesperson noted that the government attaches particular importance to strengthening education and innovation in the Armed Forces<\/b>, highlighting the collaboration with MIT, through which officers and cadets will receive ongoing training in the new technologies that are transforming the way modern operations are conducted. At the same time, he stated that the program in question is a unique initiative for Greece, bringing cadets closer to the new technological reality and ushering the country into a new era.<\/p>\n

Referring to the legislative framework for loans under the Katselis Law<\/b>, he emphasized that it affects more than 100,000 citizens, who will see a significant reduction in their monthly payments, by as much as 300 euros. He emphasized that the government went beyond the provisions of the Supreme Court\u2019s decision, ensuring the universal application of the arrangement and recognizing retroactive relief for consistent borrowers who paid more than they ultimately owed. As he said, the arrangement offers a threefold benefit: lower installments, a smaller total burden, and faster repayment, while also helping to reduce \u201cnon-performing\u201d loans, which fell from 43.6% in 2019 to 3.3% by the end of 2025.<\/b><\/p>\n

Mr. Marinakis also stated that the Ministry of Labor and Social Security\u2019s bill on equal pay for men and women has been submitted to Parliament. As he noted, the goal is to eliminate pay discrimination and enhance transparency before and during the employment relationship, with companies required to disclose data on the pay gap, bonuses, and compensation by employee category.<\/b> He emphasized that this is a significant reform that strengthens equal opportunities and the labor market.<\/p>\n

At the same time, he noted that funding of over 15 million euros was approved for ten projects in nine island municipalities, which will improve water supply infrastructure<\/b>, boost water supply, and address water shortages. In addition, he stated that 1.3 million euros in funding was approved to expand the Athens Municipal Police fleet with electric vehicles, motorcycles, and charging infrastructure, in order to support the work of its officers in their daily duties.<\/p>\n

In closing, the government spokesperson wished good luck to the students who took the Panhellenic Exams<\/b>, on the occasion of the announcement of the scores, emphasizing that their worth and future are not determined solely by their exam results.<\/p>\n

Opening Remarks<\/h3>\n

In detail, during his opening remarks at the briefing for political editors, the government spokesperson stated:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Prime Minister visited the Naval Cadet School, where a training program is being conducted that condenses high-level material taught at MIT regarding autonomous maritime systems.<\/p>\n

The goal of the program, which is being implemented at the initiative of the Ministry of National Defense by the Hellenic Center for Defense Innovation, in collaboration with MIT, is to transfer to Greece and assimilate cutting-edge know-how in the field of unmanned maritime systems, both in terms of their design and their operational utilization.<\/p>\n

Thanks to this transfer of know-how, the Armed Forces\u2019 ability to develop autonomous systems is strengthened, and ELKAK\u2019s broader mission to fosterdomestic innovative solutions.<\/p>\n

What we are seeing today is not simply a glimpse of the future; it is a snapshot of the present in a theater of operations that is now changing dramatically<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that it is particularly gratifying that \u201cwe can develop a partnership between perhaps the world\u2019s leading technological institution, MIT, and the Hellenic Armed Forces, so that we can now train Armed Forces personnel on a regular basis, but especially our cadets, in the new innovative technologies that are revolutionizing the way military operations are conducted today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias <\/b>emphasized that this program is unique in the Greek context, bringing our cadets into the new reality and ushering Greece into a new era.<\/p>\n

A Breath of Fresh Air for 100,000 Borrowers<\/h3>\n

The legislative regulation regarding loans under the Katseli Law <\/b>affects more than 100,000 of our fellow citizens, who will see a sharp reduction in their monthly loan payments, by as much as approximately 300 euros per month.<\/p>\n

The economic team went beyond the provisions of the Supreme Court\u2019s decision itself and ensured the universal application of the regulation, so that no consistent borrower would ever again be embroiled in time-consuming legal proceedings.<\/p>\n

In fact, the government, going a step further than the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling, has recognized retroactive application for all those who have remained consistent over the years, paid more than they ultimately owed, and who areare entitled to substantial redress.<\/p>\n

In short, this is a provision that offers a threefold benefit to borrowers: lower monthly payments, a lower total cost, and faster repayment.<\/p>\n

At the same time, it is an initiative that makes a significant contribution to further reducing non-performing loans. Non-performing loans, which stood at 43.6% of total loans in June 2019, fell to 3.3% in December 2025.<\/b><\/p>\n

The Ministry of Labor and Social Security\u2019s bill on equal pay for men and women has been submitted to Parliament.<\/p>\n

The goal of the initiative is to eliminate situations in which gender influences the determination of pay for workers performing similar work. The new draft law introduces, for the first time, a comprehensive framework for pay transparency, both prior to hiring and throughout the employment relationship.<\/p>\n

Equal Pay for Men and Women<\/b><\/h3>\n

Companies will be required to submit data on the pay gap: between men and women, in bonuses, and by employee category.<\/b><\/p>\n

This is a significant legislative initiative that establishes equal opportunities for all in practice and further strengthens the labor market.<\/p>\n

Funding for Projects on Islands<\/h3>\n

The Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, signed <\/b>the decision to fund 10 projects in 9 island municipalities, with a total amount exceeding 15 million euros.<\/p>\n

These projects will:<\/p>\n

-improve water supply conditions in the beneficiary municipalities,<\/p>\n

-water supply to areas is increased through the construction of new networks, and<\/p>\n

-adequate water supply is ensured in areas facing water shortages.<\/p>\n

Strengthening the Athens Municipal Police Fleet<\/h3>\n

The Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, approved 1.3 million euros in funding to strengthen the Athens Municipal Police fleet.<\/p>\n

The funding is intended for the procurement of electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, and charging infrastructure, which will support the work of the men and women of the Athens Municipal Police, who are on the front lines every day, responding to the increased needs faced by the Municipality of Athens.<\/p>\n

Shortly after noon today, the Ministry of Education, Religion, and Sports will announce the scores of the Panhellenic Examinations for General and Vocational High Schools. We wish the 12th-grade students every success in achieving their goals and remind them that neither their worth nor their future is determined by these exams.\u201d<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\n Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis briefs political editors.<\/p>\n

Pavlos directed his criticism at Alexis Tsipras…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12779,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12778"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12778\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.tomanifesto.gr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}