By Penelope Galliou

The economy is the one that largely influences the choice of the citizens at the ballot box, but the social policy – as a result of an economic program – will ultimately be the one that will decide the final result of the elections.

In this context, fourteen days before the polls open, it is the personal choice of the prime minister himself to emphatically bring back to the fore the everyday life of the citizens and the social support provided by the government throughout its four-year term – despite the adverse conditions that arose – but also which it will continue to provide based on its new government program for the next four years 2023-2027, not only to vulnerable and specific social groups, but expanding its welfare in all directions.

Insisting on the option “positively forward” as commented by a government official, the prime minister and from Elefsina where he discussed with citizens about the economy, he was clear about the positive agenda he chooses to put forward on the way to the polls, once again rejecting toxicity and aggravation .

“I don’t want us to be complacent even for a moment. We have 14 days of hard work until the last ballot is closed. I want from now until the elections to talk only positively. I have no mood, you see, I didn’t say a word, about our political opponent. I don’t besides, I don’t need to say much. I don’t need to say much, they all say it themselves. Pay attention to the poverty of arguments, three days now they are fighting about the legacy of Andreas Papandreou as if we care what happened in Greece in 1981, you don’t care what it happened in Greece in 1981, we know what happened then. You are interested in what is happening in Greece in 2023 and how we will move forward and how we will all live in a better country,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said to the citizens who had gathered to welcome him in Elefsina.

In this climate, the prime minister further specifying the economic program of the ND, announced all three new positive measures to help citizens concerning the additional reduction of ENFIA for houses insured against natural disasters, the permanentization of the Freedom Pass for young people coming of age and the increase of the child benefit for civil servants.

“Any home that is insured against natural disasters will be able to have an additional 10% discount on ENFIA” announced the Prime Minister, stating that in this way citizens will be encouraged “to insure their homes, so that there is also private coverage against natural disasters with a significant incentive to further reduce taxation”.

Then referring to the young people, he recalled the Freedom Pass that was given during the pandemic, speaking of a successful initiative which he decided to make permanent “We are now in a position to be able to say that we will give such a tool, 150 euros to every young when he will come of age, at 18 years old, so that he can spend it on a trip, on a cultural service or on a sports service, contributing and in this way at least we know that the money will take place, in domestic services and somehow to be able to return to the Greek economy”, said the Prime Minister announcing the second measure.

Finally, Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the new child allowance for civil servants which, based on the ND program, will increase from 50 euros for one child to 70, for two children from 70 to 120 euros, for three children they will go to 170 and for 4 children from 170 to 220 euros.

It was a bit strange that you add children to the family, but incrementally the allowance does not go up enough”, noted Mr. Mitsotakis announcing the third measure.

Today the prime minister will visit Epirus, where he will visit Paramythia and Parga at noon, while in the afternoon (7:00 p.m.) he will make a speech at a ND event in the indoor gym of the Municipal Sports Center of Arta.

For the ND and for the prime minister himself, Epirus is another bet for development and progress, with the Development Program of Epirus for 2030 which was drawn up jointly by the government, the Region and the Local Self-Government aiming to highlight the region in a real protagonist, not only in development, but also in social cohesion, environmental protection and quality of life.
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