The Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Haris Theoharis, described the 2024 Budget as a “Budget of stability, justice, support of incomes and the family”, speaking yesterday to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs of the Parliament, in the context of a discussion on the draft of the State Budget for the new Year.

As Mr. Theoharis explained, “it is a stability Budget, as in an environment of uncertainty – climate, energy and geostrategy – we have already implemented 50% of our program. The 2024 budget incorporates most of the measures that we have announced and which are activated in 2024, such as for example the increase in the salaries of civil servants.”

The Deputy Minister continued by saying that “last week I was in Marrakesh, for the IMF’s annual meeting. The message we received from the financial actors was to continue what we are doing and to give clear signals about our intentions and where we are moving.”

Continuing his analysis of the 2024 Budget, Mr. Theocharis underlined the emphasis placed on the 2024 measures, for the maximum possible support of incomes. On this, the Deputy Minister emphasized that “through the increase of their disposable income, the Government is standing next to our fellow citizens who are experiencing the consequences of unforeseen situations, but also to the Greek citizens as a whole. Measures such as the 10% reduction in ENFIA for those who insure their home, the mandatory insurance for medium and large businesses in case of natural disasters (a measure that we will soon see coming to the Parliament) increase the resilience of the national economy, as well as the citizens against in emergency situations”.

Regarding the critical parameter of social justice, the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance characterized the 2024 Budget as “a Justice budget, because it increases revenues without increasing taxation, which enables the government to proceed with the reform program it has plan”.

At the same time, Mr. Haris Theoharis rehashed the objections of the opposition that the revenues come mainly from indirect taxes, pointing out that the revenues of 2023 are increased from direct taxes, stating specifically that “we had more revenues, with an additional 2.4 billion euros this year in relation to 2022, from the Corporate income tax. In 2023 we reached 7.1 billion euros, compared to 4.7 billion euros in 2022. Revenues also increased from the Personal Income Tax, with an additional 1 billion euros. (12.2 billion euros this year, against 11.2 billion euros last year)”.

Finally, Mr. Theocharis referred to the large-scale and intensive effort made by the Government to combat tax evasion, referring to measures that have already been launched, such as e.g. the interface of POS with cash registers. The Deputy Minister also referred to measures that are going to be implemented soon, such as the digitization of audits, the introduction of cash-only real estate transactions and a number of measures such as IRIS, etc.

“The policy drawn up by the New Democracy Government has led the country to a virtuous cycle of debt reduction and economic growth. Of course, no one ignores the precariousness and threats from the outbreak of wars and other negative contingencies. However, economic stability and social progress can only be ensured if fiscal targets are strictly adhered to. At the same time, the big bet remains channeling resources in a targeted way, with the greatest possible economic and social efficiency, where there is a real need. And ultimately for the well-being of all Greeks”, concluded the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Mr. Theocharis.