Today is Budget Day, and the Minister of State Makis Voridis he spoke, at “Open”, of a Budget that “further reduces unemployment, increases wages, (is a Budget that) achieves one of the highest growth rates, still attracts investment. Has anyone understood this Budget because the opposition is voting against it, what does it want? Doesn’t he want wages to increase, taxes to decrease?”, he asked, closing his answer.

On the subject of banksthe minister, after referring to the announcements of the prime minister in the afternoon, clarified that “banks will not be taxed”. However, “what we will do is that there will be an intervention in the supply issue”, he announced.

While in the motivation, as he said, of PASOK to the government to intervene in the difference in interest rates (loans – deposits), he clarified: “No state does this in the European Union, it is prohibited. Interest rates are not determined by the states. It seems that PASOK does not know the basics”.

In addition, after recalling that “we went through a difficult period with the banks”, also that “the stabilization of the banking system went through a thousand waves”, he emphasized: “Now that the banks are profitable, we want them to step on their feet well, (we want ) to strengthen banking competition by putting the 5th pillar as well”.

Asked to comment on the proposal of SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance MP Pavlos Polakis to nationalize the National Bank, Makis Voridis said the following: “The idea behind this is that the market will not work, but there will be political decisions made by the state-appointed governor of the national bank.” In this way, however, he argued, “we are back to undermining the stabilization of the banking system”. This is because, “after the experience of the crisis, the money to save a bank is not put in by the taxpayers, but taken from the deposits”. Given these facts, “Mr. Polakis and SYRIZA are telling us to return to a cycle of disruption of the banking balance. And our answer is, no we won’t do that.”

Regarding the approximately 25,000 properties that are in the possession of the banks, he expressed the opinion that “the banks have not taken care, badly, of the utilization of these properties, it is not their priority”.

As for housing in general, after clarifying that “there are no magic wands”, he referred to the various government programs: Already “with the 1st program 17,000 have benefited, in the 2nd program there will be another 25,000”. Consequently, if more properties fall on the market, supply will balance with demand, he estimated.

At another point in the interview, the Minister of State was asked for his comment on the damage to the Thessaloniki Metro and he said: “The damage always occurs in the first two weeks”. In any case, when it was determined that the problem would not be resolved soon, “security protocol was followed.” While he remembered his student years in London where there were also breakdowns in the Metro.

On the subject of the next President of the Republic, he reiterated the government’s position that “everything will be done in a reasonable time”. While regarding the scenario of the return of MP Lefteris Avgenakis to New Democracy, Makis Voridis, after declaring that he does not know the matter at all, formulated the general, theoretical approach that in all things “the punishment must be proportional – and in politics there is something similar ». He reminded, however, that “from the first moment Mr. Avgenakis had publicly apologized for his behavior.”

Regarding the proposal, finally, to put a barrier on the mobile phones of minors, after noticing that it is a global debate, he pointed out that “platforms are negative in restrictions”. According to M. Boridis, what we need to do is “increase awareness of settings options that lead to parental control of cell phone use.” In any case, he added, “a campaign to inform parents is needed.” And, in conclusion, it is something that concerns everyone in the government, and the prime minister, he concluded.