A frontal attack on Alexis Tsipras<\/b> was launched by Pavlos Marinakis,<\/a> rejecting the former prime minister\u2019s proposals regarding the economy<\/b>. <\/p>\n
The government spokesperson argued that these announcements ignore the country\u2019s fiscal constraints and chose a cinematic analogy to support his criticism. <\/p>\n
As he put it, the former prime minister reminds him of the role played by Lambros Konstantaras<\/b> in the movie \u201cThe Crazy Fifty-Year-Old\u201d<\/b>, because, as he noted, \u201che acts like a big shot, a gentleman, with other people\u2019s money\u2014that of Greek taxpayers.\u201d <\/p>\n
Pavlos Marinakis emphasized that the government cannot provide more benefits than European rules allow, as this would lead, as he said, to a new period of fiscal surveillance. \u201cThe government is providing as much as it can, within the limits of European spending caps. Moreover, through its policies\u2014which aim to increase investment, exports, job creation, so that while we lower tax rates, we can increase tax revenue by combating tax evasion, creating jobs and fostering economic growth, so that we can generate these additional revenues, the maximum portion of which\u2014that is, whatever surplus we can generate from these revenues\u2014we will return to the people.\u201d <\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cSo we cannot give more. If we give more, we\u2019ll violate European rules and return to conditions of supervision, with all that entails: austerity measures and so on.\u201d <\/p>\n
He then launched a new attack on Alexis Tsipras<\/b>, saying: \u201cHe imposed 29 taxes, deceived the people, made them stand in line at ATMs, closed the banks, and even said he should have closed them from day one.\u201d <\/p>\n
Referring to the polls, he argued that the government continues to enjoy the trust of the citizens, while characterizing the former prime minister\u2019s positions as repetitive slogans that offer no solution to the cost of living<\/b>. <\/p>\n
At the same time, he noted: \u201cMr. Tsipras chose to raise the ENFIA property tax. He chose to tax the middle class. He chose to increase the advance tax payment and to strangle both the self-employed and businesses. He chose to raise health care taxes. He chose to do all of these things.\u201d <\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIn my view, taxes should be lowered for all citizens, especially for the middle class and those with lower incomes, and that is what we are doing. And what is the goal? For large companies to be treated fairly, so that they continue to create jobs.\u201d <\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIt is better for your policies to stimulate job creation\u2014that is, for this surplus to flow back into the economy and multiply its benefits\u2014rather than acting out of a spirit of revenge. Over the past 4.5 years, we\u2019ve seen taxes on the middle class and lower-income earners.\u201d <\/p>\n
Regarding the state of the Greek economy, he also noted: \u201cThis money didn\u2019t just grow on a tree; we\u2019re now providing it\u2014and it seems we have some leeway again, for the Thessaloniki International Fair\u2014to provide even more funds. So how did these conditions come about? In 2019, Greece\u2019s investment stood at 10% of GDP. The European average was 20% of GDP. We\u2019ve closed that gap and reached 18\u201319%. For exports, the European average is 50% of GDP. Greece was at 20%; now it has reached 40%.\u201d <\/p>\n