“There is no tax looting, Mr. Tsipras probably remembers the period 2015-2019 when he ruled” Christos Staikouras told SKAI 100.3. commenting on today’s statements by Alexis Tsipras from Thessaloniki.

Mr. Staikouras mentioned that the government reduced taxes in the last four years amounting to 7 billion euros.

Referring to the increased tax revenue in 2022, he attributed it to the higher growth compared to estimates, to the reduction of tax evasion due to the increase in electronic transactions, to tourism and also to accuracy, for which he clarified that it had a contribution to 1/ 5 of increasing tax revenues.

Mr. Staikouras stated that the revenues were distributed in a fair way in society, through the permanent abolition of the solidarity contribution, the permanent reduction of insurance contributions, the permanent increase of pensions, the support of those who did not see increases in pensions due to personal differences, but also the increase in doctors’ salaries.

Referring to the taxation of energy companies, he emphasized that in 2022 and 2023, 5.3 billion euros were collected from the taxation of energy production companies and also the taxation of 33% of the surplus profits of petroleum companies.

He clarified that the 4.7 billion has already been collected. The 600 million of the refineries have not been collected because the tax returns of the legal entities have not yet been submitted.

“These policies did not exist a few months ago,” said Mr. Staikouras, who admitted that “there is poverty in Greece and economic inequalities.”