“We knew there would be resentment but we have to crack down on tax evasion,” he told SKAI 100.3 and Pavlos Tsimas the minister
of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis, responding to those who attribute the unfavorable election result to the taxation of freelancers. As he pointed out, of the 75,000 professionals who have submitted a statement, only 255 have challenged the presumption.

“The problem we have to face is that the average employee has been paying more tax than the average freelancer for many years. When we passed the law I recognized that it is unpleasant for some people, but when we find a problem we have to deal with it somehow. It was an intervention with a color of social justice and these presumptions are contested, that is, they are open to questioning by the interested parties. If someone suggests that the average wage earner should continue to pay more, let them come out and support it. In any case, despite the presumptions, the biggest differences recorded by ND from SYRIZA and PASOK, based on the exit poll, are among freelancers, farmers, housewives and pensioners.

“It is a false dilemma to discuss whether we should go left or right. The key issue is to be efficient, serious, measured, with the necessary empathy and humility. To listen to the world, but basically to be effective in everyday matters. The New Democracy bike will be on an uphill road from now on, but bikes that don’t ride, fall. Fear is a bad counselor, as is arrogance. We must avoid them and move forward”, said Mr. Hatzidakis, referring to the election result.

“There are, he added, everyday battles that we must fight with the utmost determination but also without fear of the political cost. It’s the issues of health, public administration, policing, law enforcement, justice, housing, rents, obviously the issues of punctuality.”

Accuracy: in de-escalation phase, the battle continues

When asked about the accuracy, Mr. Hatzidakis underlined that both in Greece and in most European countries it was the main reason for the election results. “We have tried, he said, to deal with the issue in different ways: with salary increases in the State and the private sector within the framework of the budget and the economy. With checks and fines. By strengthening competition, a sector in which there is a lot of scope. The battle continues. We are in the de-escalation phase of the problem, recently we are below the eurozone average. This does not mean that we will return to pre-crisis levels.”

In particular, on the subject of the VAT reduction, Mr. Hatzidakis emphasized that countries such as Spain that adopted the measure have higher inflation than Greece and the governing party there lost the European elections. “We didn’t do it because, as happened other times in Greece, the VAT reduction is not passed on to the consumer. Apart from these, I tell you in all honesty that we have to take into account a certain balance in the budget and our obligations towards the EU for primary surpluses of 2.1% of GDP. If we don’t make up the revenue from the VAT cut there will be a hole. There will be a lack of money from the state for salaries, pensions, health, education. If some insist on not adopting a quote-unquote ‘pleasant’ measure, they have a reason to do so,” he said and concluded:

“If we reduced the VAT before the elections or if we gave “goodies” to sections of the population, there would obviously be a better climate. But the role of the responsible governor is obviously not to be dogmatic and arrogant, but to be serious and responsible. We hear the protests, we are not of the opinion that we are infallible. But on the other hand the country has to move forward. To make some changes that we have been discussing since we were children. Because if they are not done, at the end of the four years we will hear the criticism “why did you do nothing”.