“We will strive until the end for the budget to close with a primary surplus, the one we have announced, 1.1%. This is the passport for the markets, the investments”, the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis said to SKAI and the show “Kalimera” with Giorgos Autias.

“What helps us in the execution of the budget is that there is an overperformance of the economy itself. Despite the problems and difficulties, because we have the right mix of economic policy this is reflected on many and different levels. At the end of the year we will see the extraordinary fiscal space”, he added.

Regarding the decision of the Court of Audit, the Minister of National Economy and Finance stated: “No government can and should not despise justice. But we cannot have a ruling justice. It is not possible, simply by interpreting some articles of the Constitution we will conclude that the Ministry of Finance must come and give money, especially in this particular case. Herethe money concerns a certain group, which also happens to decide for itself.

“I will not question the Constitution’s provisions for judges. We take this decision into account, but on the other hand, we must also take into account the need not to derail the budget, not to derail the economy. Because if we start having excessive budget deficits and pension deficits again, that bill will go to the Greek citizens. In a few days, a regulation will come to Parliament, which will take into account the decision of the Court of Auditors, but even more so it will take into account the need for fiscal stability of the country”, he added.

“We do not have the ability to give retroactively. We will give pension increases of 3.1%, we have no other room. What can we say; Do we cut from the pensioners and give them to the judges? The courts have ruled on retroactives and the government has taken these decisions into account. The issue of retroactives, more broadly, has already been settled. The draft budget has been presented, there are no margins. We will shield the system and not have adverse effects on the budget and the economy”, emphasized Mr. Hatzidakis, expressing his concern about the possible emergence of “dominoes of claims”.

“In 2023 we estimate that we will have 9 billion euros more in revenue without having an increase in taxes, due to growth. If we start and do what we want, this whole course, which was achieved with great sacrifices of the Greek society and great effort of the government, will be compromised”, he added.