“We are working to have a productive discussion on Tuesday and at the highest level, the prime minister has shown that he is open to dialogue,” the deputy minister said in a televised interview.Thanasis Kontogeorgis.

Speaking to ertnews, Mr. Kontogeorgis underlined that the meeting, which will take place “with absolute respect for the demands of the farmers. Rural life is a difficult life, there is an insecurity exacerbated by the effects of the climate crisis. There are also issues concerning the excess profits of the middlemen, the Common Agricultural Policy, the illegal Greekizations where we do systematic work, and issues of a budgetary nature.”

In particular, “the Ministry of Finance is working in a direction that can facilitate more what the farmers are asking for. We are not yet ready to say that,” he noted and recalled the Prime Minister’s commitment to return the excise tax on oil.

While for electricity, on top of what was done during the energy crisis, where “a lot of the increase was absorbed”, a 10% reduction has now been announced. Also, through some energy schemes, electricity can become “quite cheap”, but this is not something that will happen tomorrow, he clarified. In addition, he added, no farmer’s electricity will be cut off, especially in the areas affected by natural disasters.

Returning to the general context, he said that “There is persistent dialogue from both sides, both from the Ministry of Rural Development and the government, and the farmers. Everyone wants a solution to be found, and in the new environment that is taking shape globally and in Europe, (to find) how to strengthen the primary sector more».

However, he added, “fiscal limits are specific, the claims may be reasonable, but at the same time, the government and the prime minister must take into account the overall situation and the social groups, who may be currently affected by punctuality and other issues. We have to keep a measure.”

The response to the agricultural issue was closed by pointing out that “dialogue, obviously, cannot take place and policies cannot be advanced, when there is an obstacle to transportation, to free movement. We’ve been saying that all over the place, but we’re not there now. We are at a point where we are all trying to have a productive process on Tuesday,” he concluded.

Bill for non-state universities

Regarding the universities, the deputy minister, in spite of the prime minister, first stated that “educational reform is also a step towards the future”. On the other hand, “both in agriculture and in the matter of higher education […] society understands the goals, the challenges and what needs to be done”.

Asked to comment on the objections of constitutional experts, he argued that “Mr. Pierrakakis’ bill is strongly legally supported”. After all, any issues related to unconstitutionality will be discussed in the Parliament, which will be decided, he said, even presenting the government’s dual goal: strengthening the public university on the one hand, the effort to attract high-level schools to the country on the other. For the latter in particular, he noted that this concerns teaching staff, building facilities, curricula and admissions procedures. In addition, Th. Kontogeorgis stated that he is confident that prestigious universities, branches of which the government seeks and aspires to bring to our country, will set conditions similar to other countries, where they already operate.

With regard to the parliamentary alliances on the specific issue, he observed first of all, that “in all the major cuts and reforms that the government brings – despite having a comfortable parliamentary majority – it seeks wider consensus”. And, in this case, “we will seek the same in the bill for the upgrading of higher education […] I believe and hope that other parties in the Parliament will also advocate in this direction”.

Resolution of the European Parliament

On another topical issue, that of the European Parliament’s resolution, after clarifying that there is no risk to EU funding, he stated: “We fully respect all European institutions and the European Parliament, but we should distinguish when there is an attempt to instrumentalize the European Parliament”. Speaking of an “excessive and unfair for the country, resolution”, which, after all, “does not honor the European Parliament itself”, he pointed out that the relevant initiative was made in a year that is close to the European elections. It is, after all, an initiative that came “to serve political purposes”.

And, expanding his reasoning, Th. Kontogeorgis underlined that “the prime minister is the head of the largest party of the European People’s Party, which for his part did not advocate in this resolution”. On the contrary, “there was an alignment of (some) Euro-groups to hurt the country”. In conclusion, “the big picture is that in terms of the rule of law our country is at a good level”, which will be reflected in the European Commission’s report in June, he estimated.

Regarding today’s current affairs, the arrests of four people for possession of explosive materials, he assured that “the police and the Ministry of Citizen Protection are doing their job”. In any case, he closed his answer by saying that “any issues that exist can only be resolved in a democratic framework and dialogue, and not with actions that threaten the safety of citizens.”

On the subject, finally, of the marriage of same-sex couples, after underlining the government’s goal, which is none other than the approval of the bill, he emphasized: “As a state of law, we are coming to bring equality to our country in this matter as well.”

As for the disagreements within the ruling party, he assured that “under no circumstances is the cohesion of the government nor the cohesion of the Parliamentary Group threatened. All the same, through this process they come out stronger. As the social alliance comes out stronger, which supports the government and has supported it since 2019 until now”.

At the same time, the deputy minister sent a signal in favor of the reforms to the prime minister in two other interviews. In the online newspaper Political, he said that “the government’s strategy is not within a framework of political tactics, but is dictated by the mandate it received in June 2023. This was a clear and strong mandate to continue the reform agenda.”

And in the newspaper “Neologos of Patras” he stated that “we do not operate under conditions of imposition. We explain, we collaborate, we develop a dialogue and we listen to what the citizens tell us. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has shown many times the path of gentle change, gentle but necessary. Therefore, we believe that society recognizes the need for reforms, which are now mature, drive society forward, promote justice, equality and social and economic progress as a starting point for development in an open, citizen-centered society.”