“Ten thousand product codes are under the microscope of the Interagency Market Control Unit (D.M.E.A.) and the services of the General Secretariat of Trade” said the Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakos, in response to the topical question of PASOK MP Giorgos Nikitiadis, regarding “misleading discounts during the black friday period”.

The minister pointed out that “we have increased the maximum amount of fines sixfold” in cases where misleading promotions and profiteering are found. He said that “fines amounting to 1.7 million euros have been imposed recently for misleading discounts”. He commented that PASOK voted against the legislative provision that increased the fines sixfold and wondered “really, what was it that bothered you and you voted against the tightening of fines for those who violate the law?”.

Mr. Theodorikakos, stated that “for the government, the issues of the cost of living are an absolute priority, what can be done to de-escalate prices, to strengthen the purchasing power of citizens and increase their disposable income, as well as how they will be supported our weak fellow citizens”. He called on all parties on these problems to participate with proposals in a serious dialogue and not “with sensationalism”. But I’m very afraid, said Mr. Theodorikakos “I tell you straight, you are not interested”.

He also recalled that when he assumed his duties, he had said that “the battle of reducing prices and increasing disposable income, we should all fight it together. And the State with the controls, and the citizens with their choices and especially the entrepreneurship to lower its average profit and to discipline in legality”. He denied that he makes “communication visits to the market”, noting that “these days, however, we had to go to the market”. The digital controls, pointed out Mr. Theodorikakos “they are much more efficient than going to the stores” and “we want to have tangible results”.

The MP of PASOK, Giorgos Nikitiadis, said that these 10,000 checks are done electronically and not on site. He called on the minister to report the outcome and fines imposed from these 10,000 checks. PASOK said it has made countless proposals to reduce VAT, strengthen the Competition Commission, strengthen the Consumer Movement, create a Single Consumer Authority but they are not heard, because you have other philosophy and options. PASOK, said Mr. Nikitiadis, we said “no to the sixfold increase in fines” and what we proposed was “that the trader should pay what he got from the profit and not just six or five times the existing fine”.

The MP gave a number of examples of misleading discounts, where traders, thirty days before, raised prices. He cited the 2019 and 2023 surveys done by the skroutz platform on sales made on Black Friday, which showed that only 20% had actual reduced prices, while there were also products that showed a price increase.