The governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras, expressed his belief that Greece will secure the investment grade within 2023, in his interview with the First Program today.

“Heywe are very close» he said characteristically, to add that the markets have already priced it into bond prices.

As he explained, this does not mean that if we take it to the investment level we will not have additional benefits. The investment base will be greatly explored. In other words, various funds, which currently have a restriction in their statutes not to invest in countries that do not have an investment grade, will invest in the country.

The incentive is huge to get investment grade, because we almost got it. That is, a very small step is needed. The next government, the one that will be elected, needs its policy statements to be such that they will push the evaluators, the rating agencies, to give this above investment grade, said Mr. Stournaras.

Of course, as the commander of the Central Committee pointed out, nothing is certain and for this reason, the responsibility the day after the elections is very great. As he said, it would be desirable for the parties to commit to supporting the economic policy goals dictated by the national interest and the interest of the country’s citizens.

For the additional reason that after the elections macroeconomic conditions will be more difficult for the next government than for the current one. And it will be more difficult because the interest rates are higher. We will have a new stability and growth pact, now it has been postponed because of the pandemic and because of the war in Ukraine.

“But that doesn’t mean it will be difficult days. The environment will be more difficult, but that does not mean that our days will be difficult. We have learned from the hard timeshe characteristically said.

Responding to a question about the possibility of becoming prime minister after the election in a cooperation government, Mr. Stournaras repeated that he is not interested.

“I have stated this repeatedly. I have said that my goal is to finish my tenure at the Bank of Greece in approximately 3-3.5 years. I still have a lot to do at the Bank of Greece and the Governing Council of the European Central Bank. When I shall happily finish this term, for everything depends on our good health, I shall be 70 or so, so it will be time to retire from the public affairs in which I have been for many years now».