“We have the largest trade deficit since 2010. I’m sounding the alarm in a government of populists with ties, which despises the intelligence of the Greek people and their real problems, daily increasing inequalities at the expense of the middle class and the poorest Greeks” noted the president of PASOK-Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakis, in his speech tonight in Rhodes, commenting on the economic policy of the New Democracy government.

Regarding the position of the Press Representative of New Democracy, Akis Skertsou, that the reduction of VAT on basic goods is a measure in favor of rich Greeks, Mr. Androulakis underlined:

“In the New Democracy program in 2019 and in most of Mr. Mitsotakis’ speeches during the same period, reference was made to a reduced rate of indirect taxes. Today Mr. Skertsos, the former worker of the Association of Greek Industrialists – because he still serves them from what it seems – is coming out today, and he answers us that the reduction of indirect tax rates does not help the middle class and the poor but the economically powerful and the oligarchs. Mr Skertsos has made his own economic rules and is telling the Greek people – for the first time in economics worldwide – that the reduction of indirect taxes does not help the poor and the middle but the oligarchs. Shame on you, gentlemen of the New Democracy, that at the altar of defending your narratives that are suspended from the social reality of the country, you despise even the elementary rules of economic science.

“Their anguish is not the poor and the middle class. Their anguish is the few who support them. In the drawer of Mr. Skrekas they have kept the taxation of the surplus profits of the suppliers. Why haven’t they been taxed?” asked Mr. Androulakis and added, underlining the change of course of SYRIZA regarding the taxation of bank profits: “Mr. Tsipras said a few months ago that he agrees with the taxation of bank profits, since the difference between deposit rate and mortgage rate is the largest in the European Union. So it gives me a sad impression that in the last ten days they have changed their position both on dividends and on the taxation of bank profits. It is becoming clear who have fixed positions and who are the “sponsors” of New Democracy and the only ones responsible for which Mr. Mitsotakis got 40%”

“Is it possible to say that there will be a tax exemption on parental benefits up to 4.8 million euros, at a time when the poorest Greeks have paid 5 billion more in VAT in the last two years, at a time when they see the price of milk, bread, cheese , of the meat to rise? So, we are here to bring social justice and national dignity to every Greek woman and every Greek man. We are not popularizing, we are speaking concretely” Mr. Androulakis pointed out.

Referring to Greek-Turkishthe President of PASOK-Movement of Change emphasized: “We want conditions of good neighborliness and a de-escalation of challenges, but this presupposes respect for international law.

Powerful interests cannot arm a country that upsets the wider region, the South Caucasus, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Tour borders are not only Greek-Turkish, they are also Euro-Turkish. Europeans have a duty to do what has been voted on my initiative in the European Parliament: An arms embargo on Turkey as long as the Erdogan government does not respect international law and directly undermines stability in the wider region.

We supported the deals with France and the F-16 deal. But all this has a limit to the fiscal stability of the country, its ability to prioritize the welfare state, the middle class, the vulnerable. We cannot enter into an arms rally, especially when those – from whom we buy arms – are arming both us and Turkey. That is why I consider a priority not only the arms embargo but also the leading presence of Greece in Europe’s unified foreign policy and in the creation of the Euro army. As Frontex exists today, we must put aim in the next 10 years to have a European army, who will guard our border with Turkey. It will guard all European borders, from Finland to the Republic of Cyprus.”