By Penelope Galliou

The economy may be on a positive track with the recovery of the investment grade and the good progress of the budget execution, however the obstacles caused by accuracy in households remains the number one “adversary” for the government which continues to invest in measures to support citizens in order to absorb the shocks caused.

Everyday life remains the non-negotiable priority of Megaros Maximos, which focuses on it and invests in solving all those problems that make it unhappy.

Essentially, it is a bet that the Prime Minister himself, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is making, in view of the next ballot box for the European elections, which will be set up again in June, and the interim political time must be utilized accordingly in order to bring the desired results on the one hand support of the citizens and on the one hand for maintaining the political supremacy of the ND.

“The political scene in Greece makes us optimistic. A competent center-right government that focuses on immediate problem-solving and focuses on development can win the elections with the percentage it received in 2019.

The populist equivalent in Greece collapsed while it was in opposition,” said Mr. Mitsotakis during his discussion with renowned political scientist Francis Fukuyama at the 27th annual Economist Government Roundtable conference.

The prime minister also described inequalities as the biggest problem of modern societies and noted: “We accuse the populists of offering easy solutions, but in the final analysis we have to look at the solutions that fuel populism.”

In the context of the ongoing struggle against the problems of everyday life, today’s meeting of the Council of Ministers at 11 in the morning, includes a series of bills that focus on the treatment of pathogens.

The bill of the Ministry of Finance to combat tax evasion is the main topic that will be presented by the Minister of Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis and Deputy Minister Haris Theocharis and is a shield against tax evasion, the fight against “black money” and smuggling.

Among the measures it includes are the limitation of cash transactions, the expansion of POS to more professions and the strengthening of digital relations between citizens and tax authorities.

The data also shows that a large proportion of freelancers declare very low incomes, as for the 2022 incomes declared by freelancers it appears that seven out of ten declare an income of up to 10,000 euros and several declare zero income or losses.

An image that automatically targets specific professional categories of the Ministry of Finance.

With the bill in question, POS will be extended to certain categories that are not mandatory (kiosks, taxis, theaters, cinemas, concerts, etc.), in addition, it provides for the completion of the interconnection of POS with cash registers, with a final date of the end of February 2024.

Gradually also all transactions with the tax office will be done digitally and business expenses to be recognized by the tax office will have to be submitted through mydata, the new digital platform. In addition, the contract price for real estate transfers should only be made via bank transfer, while any payment over 500 euros in cash will be fined twice the amount, i.e. 1,000 euros.

In addition to the economy and the decisive “combination” attempted by cracking down on tax evasion to further push it and enforce justice among taxpayers, health, education, law enforcement and the day-to-day dealings of citizens with the state are included in today’s agenda of the Council of Ministers, where the following bills will also be presented:

-Presentation by the Minister of Health Michalis Chrysochoidis and Deputy Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos of the legislative initiatives: a) Psychiatric reform, b) Greek action plan to deal with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease,

-Presentation by the Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou and Deputy Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis of the legislative initiatives: a) Establishment and organization of the Cybersecurity Regulatory Organization, b) Interventions in the organization and operation of the Hellenic Land Registry,

-Presentation by the Minister of Education, Religion and Sports Kyriakos Pierrakakis and Deputy Minister Zetta Makri of the legislative initiatives: a) Organizational changes at the Democritus University of Thrace and the map of higher education – New operating framework of the Academy of Athens, b) Reform initiatives for the professional education,

-Presentation by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilia of the legislative initiatives: a) Restructuring of the structures of the National Civil Protection Mechanism, b) Aerial search, rescue and air transport mechanism,

-Presentation by the Minister of Justice Giorgos Floridis of the legislative initiatives: a) Modernization of the institutional framework for the pledge on movables, receivables and other rights, b) Incorporation of Directives 2022/2011 and 2022/228 for the protection of personal data – Sanction of the amending Protocol to the Convention of the Council of Europe for the protection of the individual from the automated processing of personal data,

-Presentation by the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni and the Minister of Rural Development and Food Lefteris Avgenakis, of fundraising bills of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Rural Development and Food,

– Proposal by the Minister of Environment and Energy Theodoros Skylakakis for measures to reduce energy costs,

-Proposal by the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Thodoris Livanos, regarding the establishment, formation and operation of the Government Committee for the monitoring and coordination of the project of upgrading existing and building new land border stations.