Referring to accuracy, which dominates the market o Parliamentary Representative of PASOK-Movement for Change, Michalis Katrinis speaking to ANT1 he emphasized:

Accuracy is now visible everywhere in the everyday life of citizens. This is reflected in several areas:

-In telecommunications, where based on its data Eurostat Greece is 67% more expensive than the European average.

-At the banks, where abusive commissions and charges for transactions remain and have increased, while the increase in interest rates that “suffocates” households and businesses continues.

-In housing, where based on a recent survey by the most well-known real estate company, we have a 6% rent increase in 2023, while in some cases the increase reached 20%, with new couples and young people not being able to find the housing of their dreams them with dignity.

-In energy, where in November alone we had a 10% increase on the PPC invoiceswhile other increases are imminent through a labyrinthine way of calculating the price of the kilowatt hour for which no proper preparation has been made.

-And of course, in the crown of precision, the basic food and living items, where in the last three years we have had cumulative inflation of the order of 30%. In many basic necessities, our country is 30% to 50% more expensive than the rest of the European countries, and even in some products it reaches 360%.

In relation to late government fines and lack of market controls in peak accuracy:

We have been shouting for two years about the absence of controls in the market, as a result of which filthy lucre prevails. The fines in the food market, where the biggest increases are noted, were – until recently – minimal, while not a single fine was imposed for food embezzlement all summer! The fines imposed in recent weeks concern items for which the Competition Commission had already pointed out the very high selling prices to consumers 1 year ago (school supplies) and 6 months ago (detergents and personal hygiene items). So, the government has known for a year – at least – in the most official way that some products are being sold at a high price and did absolutely nothing, resulting in prices constantly rising at the expense of the citizens.

The question is simple: why – for the same cases of products – are fines imposed on the current leadership of the Ministry of Development, while there was not a single one on the previous leadership?

Regarding the reduction of VAT on basic food items, he said:

In three countries where the measure was implemented, Portugal, Spain and Poland, the reduction in VAT led to a reduction of up to sixteen points in food inflation. A measure proposed by the EU succeeded and was renewed in the countries where it was implemented and is being proposed by PASOK from January 2022. This specific proposal, which will relieve citizens in their daily lives, is not only embraced by PASOK, but and the Consumer Goods Retail Research Institute, as well as the Food Industry Association, but also consumers (INE-GSEE study)

Regarding the “Screkas list” for the “permanent reduction” in the price of products in supermarkets, the Member of Parliament Ilias replied:

Instead of the 5% reduction in the price of some products, which the list mentions, today as we speak the price is actually increased by 15% in basic food items, such as lentils and feta cheese for example.

That is, at the same time that a product appears reduced by 5% on the “Skreka list” compared to the original price, it is currently sold at a higher price than the original price in supermarkets. If this is not cheating the citizens, then what is?

The only basic type of consumer food available today with a decrease of 5%, had shown an increase of 4.78% between September and October. So, in practice there was no reduction.

Regarding the staffing of the Competition Commission and DIMEA to address the issue of accuracy:

While a law has been passed which gave the Competition Commission the ‘tools’ and the ability to staff it to carry out its work, no recruitment has been made to date. DIMEA shows the same understaffing, while we are in the third year of accuracy! So, the conclusion is one: Two years have passed with large increases in product prices and non-existent controls by the government, since the control mechanism (DIMEA) was underfunctioning due to its own responsibility and the independent authority (Competition Commission) was not strengthened.