Referring to Greek-Turkish, Mr. Androulakis said that “we have entered a new adventure both as Greece and as the European Union and Mr. Mitsotakis’s view after his last meeting with Mr. Erdogan that we are entering a new era of stability with Turkey. it was unreal. ”
“The cost of living has become unbearable, the purchasing power of the Greeks has collapsed, concrete measures need to be taken now and the government can not take such decisions and have as an alibi that there is no budgetary margin, because there is space, as long as there is political will “, stressed the president of PASOK-KINAL Nikos Androulakis, who toured the Toumba market.
Referring to Greek-Turkish, Mr. Androulakis said that “we have entered a new adventure both as Greece and as the European Union and Mr. Mitsotakis’s view after his last meeting with Mr. Erdogan that we are entering a new era of stability with Turkey. it was unreal. “
The answers of Mr. Erdogan’s revisionists must be clear and European, stressed the president of PASOK-KINAL: “Arms embargo. “Any country in Europe that sells arms to Turkey undermines stability in the southeastern Mediterranean,” he said.
He also pointed out that the construction of the new stadium of PAOK and the renovation of the wider area of ​​Toumba must proceed.
His full statement during the tour is as follows:
“The cost of living has become unbearable. The purchasing power of the Greeks has collapsed and concrete measures are needed with a reduction of VAT on basic goods and a reduction of the excise tax. Very difficult summer months are coming. So the government can not take such decisions and have as an alibi that there is no fiscal space. I want to tell you that one billion euros to date is the above VAT revenue alone from what the government had budgeted. So there is room as long as there is political will. That is why immediately from tomorrow morning, a reduction of VAT on basic goods and a reduction of the excise tax “.
Asked by a journalist about the ongoing provocation of Turkey, Mr. Androulakis replied: “We have entered a new adventure with Turkey both as Greece and as the European Union. So Mr. Mitsotakis’ view when he met with Mr. Erdogan a few months ago that we were entering a new era of stability with Turkey was unrealistic. The results are what the Greek people are experiencing. Continuous and escalating challenges. So in the face of Erdogan’s tactics, the deeply revisionist one that does not respect international law, the answer must be clear and European: the arms embargo. Any country in Europe that sells arms to Turkey undermines solidarity and undermines stability in the Southeastern Mediterranean. “The prime minister and those who have power and influence at the heart of the European Union must not engage in public relations but, with an active foreign policy, force Europe to have a common strategy of deterring rather than appeasing Turkey.”
Regarding the construction of the new stadium of PAOK and the regeneration of the area of ​​Toumba, Mr. Androulakis noted: “It is obvious that this project must proceed […] a project that will create a wider regeneration and will improve the lives of citizens in Toumba and throughout Thessaloniki. “
The discussion with the citizens
Mr. Androulakis walked along Grigoriou Lambraki Street, from the height of Pereivos to the PAOK stadium, in the central market of Toumpa, entered shops, talked to shopkeepers, customers and passing citizens, and the conversations revolved mainly around the problems that people face.
He was accompanied on the tour by MPs Haris Kastanidis, Konstantina Adamou, former Minister Giannis Magriotis and party officials (Costas Chrysogonos, Antonis Saoulidis, Nikos Xylouris, Penny Dalampoura, Thanasis Glavinas, etc.).
Before completing his tour, Mr. Androulakis visited the youth center in Toumpa, where he was welcomed and guided by the president of the municipal council of Thessaloniki, Petros Lekakis.
