Government sources accuse PASOK president Nikos Androulakis of uncosted proposals in response to his announcements at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).

As government sources point out, the leader of the opposition, “instead of a ‘programmatic plan,’ Mr. Androulakis, from the TIF podium, revived the failed recipes of the past with ‘green money trees’ and ‘unfunded’ promises.”

They emphasize that “PASOK’s uncosted proposals violate the EU’s fiscal rules since they exceed the spending ceiling, which means they would lead to surveillance, tax increases, and austerity measures.”

In detail, government sources stated:
Instead of a “programmatic plan,” Mr. Androulakis from the TIF podium revived the failed recipes of the past with “green money trees” and “unfunded” promises.

Instead of alternative proposals, the PASOK president described the fastest road back to the ordeals of the past, which citizens have paid for dearly.

PASOK’s uncosted proposals violate EU fiscal rules since they exceed the spending ceiling, which means they would lead to surveillance, tax increases, and austerity measures.

Faced with PASOK’s irresponsible promises, the government is implementing with seriousness and responsibility the major tax reform announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the TIF, worth €1.76 billion, with tax cuts that will bring income increases to employees, pensioners, freelancers, and farmers, as well as generous relief focused on families, young people, Greece’s regions, and our border islands.

Mr. Androulakis adds measures amounting to several billion euros and therefore proposes a complete fiscal derailment, which with mathematical certainty would lead our country into an enhanced surveillance regime, adopting populist practices that point to a “green SYRIZA.”

Just the cost of reinstating the 13th salary in the public sector, amounting to €1.35 billion, is enough to push the country into an excessive deficit procedure since it comes on top of the already announced measures. The government instead chose wage increases in both the public and private sectors through reduced deductions, which, especially for families with three or more children, lead to an increase of more than one salary per working parent.

Regarding the reduction of VAT on basic goods once again proposed by PASOK, the cost for food alone at a 6% rate (down from 13%) is about €1 billion. Mr. Androulakis should look at what happened in Spain, where the measure was applied temporarily and then withdrawn because the benefit did not reach the final consumer. At the very least, he should read the Bank of Greece study, which shows that only 19% of the measure would actually reach citizens. For this reason, the government chose direct support for citizens through the reduction of direct taxation, which from January 1st will lead to income increases for workers in both the public and private sectors as well as pensioners.

Mr. Androulakis discovered that Greece is diverging from the rest of Europe, when in fact it is converging in per capita GDP, income, private consumption, unemployment reduction, and employment growth.

He spoke about the need for the digitalization of the state, obviously because he does not use Gov.gr, where public services have already been digitized for the benefit of citizens.

Faced with PASOK’s sweeping and irresponsible logic, citizens know that Greece is moving forward with seriousness and responsibility under the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which is implementing a comprehensive program for the country’s development and progress.

We doubt whether Mr. Androulakis really means what he says about elections, which, as the Prime Minister has repeatedly stressed, will be held in 2027. By then, the PASOK president will be legally obliged to present a proper and costed program, not today’s vagueness with unfunded promises.