“” The country goes in a completely wrong direction, the Greeks lived older older. ” This is something that has been repeated recently by some commentators on the internet or media. At times, presenting evidence either selectively or distorted, “the Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said in a post on the LinkedIn platform.

Mr. Hatzidakis then notes: “Obviously the country has a number of problems. Obviously, the international inflationary crisis has influenced and negatively affecting Greek households“And he answers a series of questions:” However, let’s answer some questions:

  • Did the Greeks live better 10 years ago, when Greece reached the brink of exit from the eurozone?
  • Was things better in 2019, when investments in Greece were planted and Greece, instead of converging, was out of the European average?
  • Is it inaccurate that investment increased by 64% between 2019-2024? And that is the biggest increase in the entire European Union?
  • Is 7.9%, the current percentage, or 18%, a lower percentage in unemployment, ie 2019? Is it a small thing in a country of 10.5 million, such as Greece, have more than half a million new jobs created?
  • Is it true or not that the minimum and average salary increased more than inflation? The minimum had a 35%increase and average salary of 28%, when inflation from 2019 is 19.2%!
  • Is it true or not that there were 72 different taxes and insurance contributions by 5.4 points? And that this is how we have, after a long time, in terms of insurance contributions, to the average of the European Union? Also, if one believes the opposite, I would ask him to tell us at least a tax that has increased from 2019 to the present.
  • Is it or is not proof of convergence with the most advanced countries in the European Union that real GDP per capita has increased by 11%? Isn’t it a success that we went up from 62% in 2020 of the European average to 70%?
  • How can one also consume more, save more, reduce their debts if he has no more money in his pocket? Because the figures show that: private consumption increased by 20%between 2019 and 2024. Deposits of € 137 billion reached 200 billion euros, with three -fifths of growth coming from households. While private debt as a percentage of GDP decreased from 109.7% to 94.1%.
  • And yet: Have all international analysts conspired in favor of the government, who have been praising the progress of the Greek economy in recent years? “

As the vice -president of the Greek government says, “I do not claim that all problems have been resolved. We are, after all, far from the European average. And it goes without saying that we must continue the effort, without self -esteem and without arrogance, but without accepting any leveling and populist criticism.

It is also understood that in trying for a better Greece we should not be afraid of reforms. We should not be afraid of battles. Because otherwise we can’t win wins! Promoting reforms is not only ethically correct, they are also politically profitable. Inaction would damage both the New Democracy and even more so.

That is why we are determined to promote a series of initiatives that will boost investment and exports, the competitiveness of the economy. Such initiatives are the direct tax cuts announced by Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the TIF, the new export strategy, special spatial frameworks for tourism, industry and RES, the further reduction of bureaucracy for businesses by 25%.

This is a common sense policy that can make Greece stronger. And give the room for a more meaningful social policy. Opposite us we continue to have those who speak with money. Is there anyone in Greece today, which has been so strongly tested by a decade -old financial crisis that he does not think that money is a curse for the nation? With the reforms we won as a people and as a lineup, with the reforms we will continue! “