Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis left open the possibility of giving an allowance at Easter to vulnerable social groups through SKAI and the show “Kalimera” with Giorgos Autias.

“In the 40 days since the New Year, we’ve already announced more than our budget forecasts, we’ve committed to on-call doctors and we’ve committed to increasing the birth allowance. These cost 210-212 million euros. All this is related to the progress of the economy. We care that the situation does not leave the trajectory it has entered. If we have high growth rates, if, as happened in previous years, we have a positive excess in relation to budget projections, we are here to return the surplus back to society,” he said.

Regarding the farmers, the Minister of Finance emphasized: “Toward the farmers, regardless of the parties, we all have a sympathy. We feel close to these people and their problems and we understand them. I imagine that they themselves understand that there are some limits. We are running out of money and that is why the Prime Minister has said that the excise duty on fuel will be refunded. This is over 80 million costs to the public. From now on, we are studying how and as quickly as possible to return this.”

Mr. Hatzidakis also emphasized that “we have to look at the structure of the agricultural sector in Greece. We must all together look at the functioning of the producer groups, the cooperatives, where the money we receive from the EU goes. We must also talk about the reforms needed in the agricultural sector to have a permanent and sustainable income.”

Asked if he is optimistic about Tuesday’s meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the farmers, Mr. Hatzidakis replied: “They themselves will understand the government’s good mood. We are willing to discuss with them. We believe in open dialogue with open roads. If they themselves follow a moderate line, as the government also follows, we will be able to find a result. A good faith dialogue will lead to the right result. We don’t have endless possibilities.”

Also, the finance minister pointed out that “at the end of the year we should have a primary surplus of 2.1% of GDP, almost 5 billion euros to reduce the debt. We will keep this so that we can deliver the benefits we have committed to. And if there is a surplus at the end of the year, we will see as we did in previous years. The January figures show that things are going well on the revenue level.”

Regarding the new minimum wage, Mr. Hatzidakis estimated that “the increase in the minimum wage will be announced at the end of March so that the increase will take effect from April 1” and that it will be more than 800 euros. “The first digit of the minimum wage will start at eight, but there is a consultation with the agencies and it remains the government’s goal to go to 950 euros by the end of the four-year period,” underlined Mr. Hatzidakis.

Referring to the average salary, he pointed out that it has increased by about 20% during the 4.5 years of ND government. “We took the average salary of 1046 euros and now it is 1258 euros, almost a 20% increase.”