PASOK’s parliamentary representative Michalis Katrinis referred to “five points (that) deconstruct the government’s narrative on the state budget”, during the debate in the Parliament’s Economic Affairs Committee on the 2024 budget.

As he said, “the budget is based on uncertainties since:

  • It predicts a high growth rate of 2.9% while E.E. and IMF lower forecasts with 2.3% and 2%.
  • It foresees a containment of inflation, while there is uncertainty especially about energy prices.
  • It predicts the highest investment growth rate of 15%, when in 2023 the investment growth rate was half of what was predicted.”

As Mr. Katrinis said, tax revenues are based on indirect taxes which are the most unfair while the balance in the relationship between indirect and direct taxes is worsening and “the government is not making any effort to change this mix. That’s why is not discussing a reduction in VAT on basic food items, as other European countries have done.”

Referring to the tax policy, a policy he described as unfair, Mr. Katrinis said that:

  • Personal income tax will be increased by 959 million euros compared to 2023, due to the taxation of self-employed persons.
  • Corporate income tax is estimated at 6.696 billion euros, 295 million euros less than last year, while the stock exchange tax and fundraising tax are cut by 50% from 0.5% to 0.2%.

“The government claims that revenue from taxing professionals and scientists is directed to spending on health and education. It does not say, however, that a significant part of the 481 million euros that will be given to health will be allocated to the payment of overdue liabilities of the hospitals, which increased by 664 million euros between December 2022 and September 2023″, said the PASOK parliamentary representative .

In this climate, he also noted that the myth that the New Democracy government does not impose taxes is dispelled. “In addition to the new way of taxing the self-employed with presumptive income which sets us back many years, we also have the return of the VAT rate to 24% for non-alcoholic drinks which will lead to price increases in catering,” said Mr. Katrina and added that the government is diligently keeping hidden problems such as government guarantees that constitute a serious fiscal risk and reached 29.6 billion in 2022 from 9.8 billion in 2019.

“The government has no credibility. It has no development plan for the country, inclusive development plan for the many. At the same time it has no plan to deal with existential problems for citizens, such as punctuality and private debt.

We do not deserve a society of low expectations. The country deserves better. Greek society is looking for a new, alternative and reliable plan for progressive governance. This is our responsibility, PASOK’s responsibility.