After the passage of bad weather from central Greece, the interview with ertnews began Deputy Minister instead of Prime Minister Thanasis Kontogeorgis: “Our attention was focused on Thessaly”, he assured from the beginning, adding that Civil Protection was on standby. Then, however, he unfolded the fan of government actions for the next period.

In particular: “Next week the Ministry of Infrastructure will present all the projects that will start in Thessaly, in each regional unit and municipality that was affected.” These are projects of the Ministry of Infrastructure, concerning the road network and the rehabilitation of the railway network. In addition, “in the Parliament, next week the debate begins on the Water Management Organization of Thessaly, which will carry out a part of the master plan, mainly in terms of flood protection, but not only”. At the same time, “the program of state aid and assistance to farmers for the damages that have occurred is progressing”.

In the price problem, “accuracy is and remains,” he acknowledged by way of introduction. Despite the progress – which “was also reflected yesterday, with the upgrade of the assessment of the Greek economy by Standard & Poor’s” – the world does not collect it in its entirety, added Th. Kontogeorgis.

But, at this point in the interview, he cited the measures that the government has taken recently, starting with the controls: “In April alone, fines of around 4 million have already been imposed on several companies”, he underlined. On top of that, “in the coming days we will have an upgraded e-Consumer platform,” where the buyer will find out where there are cheaper prices on a particular product. While, at the same time, the “steady policy of strengthening incomes, increasing the minimum wage” continues, which is “a response to this crisis as well”.

Asked why the government does not agree to the proposals of the parties for a reduction in taxes (Excise Tax, VAT), the deputy minister in spite of the prime minister accused, first of all, the opposition of “having an easy rhetoric in many things”.

While he then argued that in seven European countries – most notably Spain – the VAT cut got lost along the way and reverted to higher prices. The same applies to the other indirect taxes, he added.

While another point of his criticism was that “when the opposition makes such proposals, they should tell us how much they cost and where they will make up (including the lost revenue). They don’t do it for reasons we all understand.”

He also cited other tools, such as controls on the profit margins of intermediaries, the “godfather’s basket”, the “Easter basket”. In addition to the above, “with the measures we have taken, we expect that in fresh products, where we had a decrease, but also in the rest of the basic necessities at the food level, we will gradually have a de-escalation there as well. What we are achieving is that the growth rate is not as significant as it was before. The problem is not being solved,” he said, while also pointing out that “the consumer is now more frustrated, complaints from consumers have greatly helped the mechanism and there is now a short response time.”

Changing the subject, the upcoming European elections, he explained that “a large part, 70% to 80%, of the decisions concerning our daily life, are taken in the European Parliament. Our representatives there play an important role.” On the other hand, “it is a national ballot, even though it is a European ballot, the result has a reflection on the internal political correlations”.

In addition, the European elections are “a national ballot box with wider stakes, which is why participation must be strong. We invite the citizens to participate”, urged the voters the deputy minister in addition to the prime minister. And, setting the bar for the ND, on “the best possible result”, he observed that yes, “the European elections always have a particularity”, but, he continued, “we believe that the world will evaluate the work that has been done, beyond of 2019 – 2023, and this first year of the second four-year period”.

According to Th. Kontogeorgis, “Europe is the best environment for our interests, the world knows that there is a need for negotiation skills and credibility – and Kyriakos Mitsotakis has achieved these. We must preserve and strengthen the acquis of this period. That’s the stake. The greater (is) the result for New Democracy, the stronger will be the possibility to claim what we need in the wider European environment”.

When asked about the government’s priorities, he identified the “gradual increase of incomes and the simultaneous reduction of inequalities” as top. Other priorities are the judicial map, which is being discussed in the next few days in the Parliament, the environmental issues (forestry and arbitrary construction), with the corresponding bill as well. But also challenges that “are in front of us”, such as the climate crisis and adaptation. Finally, “health and education continue to be absolute priorities”.

Concluding with the opinion polls and the “blue” European ballot paper, after pointing out that “the candidacy of Mr. Beleris has a symbolism”, he added by saying: “The entire composition of the European ballot paper – people from all corners of Greece and the diaspora, with different professional routes, people coming together in this social and political alliance of progressive patriotism, democratic modernization – it also gives the signal how we will go about the elections. No citizen is taken for granted, all polls start with being empty, we will present what we have done and want to do in the next period for our country”.

And, in conclusion, “citizens will also evaluate the opposing proposals – if they exist, because at the moment we only hear a sterile opposition and a populism that should not be revived. Things that cost us in the past should not be allowed to be revived”, asked the deputy minister in closing to the prime minister