From the decision of the Economic Prosecutor’s Office, to lift the protection status of the two witnesses for the Novartisthe full-length radio interview of the deputy minister and the prime minister began, Thanasis Kontogeorgisin the First Program of ERT. Regarding the objections, in particular, of the opposition, he replied:

“The complaint cannot concern the Greek judiciary because it is a decision made by the judiciary”, was his first comment. And, “since nothing came of it, we’re obviously talking about people who, instead of witnesses, were false witnesses.”

He clarified, however, that “the status of protected witnesses continues to exist, because it is extremely crucial for the disclosure of illegal acts. This did not happen in this particular case.”

Consequently, “what the opposition reports is very far from reality, because justice works and defends the rule of law, as well as the existing legal framework”, pointed out Th. Kontogeorgis. Recalling earlier statements by officials of the SYRIZA government (“the biggest scandal” coke) he insisted that “ten people were hanged, apparently for something that had not been done”.

Next topic, the positions of the ruling party’s deputies in Greek-Turkish: “With a systematic effort, the prime minister has created a political capital, and international one, which has allowed the country to have important alliances and strengthen its deterrent capacity. In relation to Turkey, obviously there must be a discussion in order to have calm in the region. The only difference that exists with Turkey is known and we are moving in this direction. After all, in Mr. Gerapetritis’ briefing to the MPs of the New Democracy, a very substantial discussion took place, as in general the meetings of ministers and MPs are substantial”, said the Deputy Minister in addition to the Prime Minister.

These procedures, on the other hand, strengthen the internal dialogue, he also stated, at the same time pointing out that the government and MPs of the coalition “have the same goal: to have a good government that will provide solutions to citizens’ problems and a perspective for the next day ».

Asked to comment on Ankara’s claims regarding the Turkish continental shelf between Chios and Lesvos, he was categorical: “The Greek government has taken all the necessary actions for this illegal action”, after all “Greece exercises all its sovereign rights”, he assured and he emphasized that “the role of the country is stabilizing, we will insist on this”.

In the landscape that has been formed to the right of the New Democracy, he intervened by saying that “the government has a plan, which it follows in the axes of the economy, public administration, reforms, and of course in those concerning defense and foreign policy. We have had enough of… super-patriots.”

At another point in the interview, rejecting the attacks on the president of the party, Foni Logikis, the deputy minister insisted that “we must highlight the contradictions, the hypocrisy, and the exaggerations that characterize the public speech uttered by these parties as well.” While in the observation that some of these parties present themselves as the “authentic New Democracy”, Thanasis Kontogeorgis referred to the well-known saying of Yannis Tsarouchis, “in Greece you are whatever you declare”.

However, he added, “the prime minister, the government as a whole, we are fanatical supporters of the idea that we continue our work. This will yield results, that’s where we must be focused” and at the end of the four years “citizens will evaluate whether we did well or not”.

To the well-known questions about changing the electoral law, Kok recalled that during the first four years, after the first year had passed, “we were discussing whether early elections would be held, whether the electoral law would be changed, with whom the ND would cooperate. The prime minister, the government, especially on these issues, have moved absolutely institutionally. And I don’t know to what extent society is concerned about whether elections will be held, whether the electoral law will be changed. There are other issues on which we are focused,” he noted, highlighting at the same time the position that “in matters of the institutional functioning of democracy, the government operates with complete transparency.”

On the question of the income of Greek citizens, the deputy minister in addition to the prime minister cited yesterday’s eurostat data, according to which “the disposable income of Greeks from 2019 to date has increased by 29%”. On the other hand, he acknowledged, “there are factors that contribute to the reduction of disposable income and we are looking to combat them”.

Specifically for supermarket prices, “there has been a big price increase, mainly imported due to the energy crisis, but also due to practices. Now the control mechanisms of the market will be more… polished and qualified in relation to the practices in the market. A framework has been put in which seems to be working and performing. There is constant vigilance”, he assured in this regard, underlining at the same time “the big bet”, which is sustainable development, which “it seems we are achieving, but it also needs political stability and persistence in policies”.

Asked to comment on the parliamentary incident between the prime minister and the president of the Parliamentary Group of SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance, T. Kontogeorgis stated on this that “there are known issues with Mr. Pappas and the prime minister and symbolically with this move he highlighted them ». After all, “we all have a memory in this country.”

Beyond that, “the government has prioritized solving the problems”, while “the opposition will do its job in the way it chooses, we always hope for a constructive opposition”. However, he added, “if we judge from the first bill, of the Ministry of the Interior, which has to do with the acceleration of the procedures at the ASEP but also a fairer operation of the recruitment system, there was not a very positive response”. In conclusion, “these are evaluated by the citizens. We will see if the opposition will be of “no to everything” or if it will have nuggets of opposition that can help the right reason, we are waiting for writing samples”.

Asked, finally, about the upcoming meeting between the prime minister and the president of PASOK, he replied that “they spoke on the phone and there was a climate of understanding”, and from there on, the directors of the two offices will look into the details of the meeting.