The speech of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has begun in the Parliament, in the debate on the ratification of the State Budget for the fiscal year 2024.

“The first budget after 14 years that is launched with our country at the investment level”, emphasized the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, starting his speech in the Parliament during the debate on the ratification of the State Budget for the fiscal year 2024.

“It marks a milestone in historic time as this upgrade has been a national goal that I personally committed here a year ago to be achieved by 2023 and it has been. Through a plan of the State based on trust”, he underlined.

He pointed out that trust begets trust. Trust between countries but also trust between the State and citizens, as demonstrated by the last elections, he said and emphasized, is what is hidden behind the numbers that constitute the identity of today’s economic policy. He mentioned the growth rate which is 2.4% and the drop of unemployment below 10%, the reduction of public debt, the strengthening of investments and exports, as well as the increase of the average wage over 15%.

“The investment grade for some may mean nothing. But in essence it says everything because in internal life it seals the end of foreign supervision and abroad it sends the message that the era of national unreliability has definitively passed,” he stressed.

At this point he said that speaking about the Budget, the first of the government’s second term, he wants to make five clear commitments. “May the country never again find itself in an economic adventure similar to the one it experienced in the last ten years. Never again to be put on the international sidelines, away from Europe. With prudence and realism every day is better than the last. With a united society that will converge with Europe in all fields and a strong state that will constantly modernize and win the stakes of the times”.

He added: “finally, I think the investment grade deserves to be treated by all of us as a milestone of national self-awareness. A landmark encounter with reality. It is a station on our path for national maturation which is a prerequisite for the development of every country. It is the driving force of a responsible patriotism which will manifest itself everywhere. In a few words, the investment tier is the opportunity to show the best side of ourselves.”

The debate began with the positions of the parliamentary representatives, while afterwards the political leaders will speak in the reverse order of the strength of the nine parliamentary groups.

It concludes with the speech of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Immediately after, the budget will be passed by electronic roll-call vote, which is a vote of confidence in the government.

Voting is conducted simultaneously, and with separate lists and voters, for the revenues and expenditures of each ministry.