Three questions to PASOK were addressed by the Deputy Minister under the Prime Minister and a government spokesman, Paul Marinakisin response to the statement of the party’s spokesman, Kostas Tsoukalawho on the occasion of the weekly review of Kyriakou Mitsotakis He accused the government of “exchanging the financial bleeding of crumbs”.

Mr Marinakis emphasized that since 2019 the government has made 72 reductions or abolitions of direct and indirect taxes – including in ENFIA, income tax and insurance contributions – while “not a single tax rate has increased”, with the only exception of ENFIA.

Regarding the increase in tax revenue, the government spokesman attributed it to reduction in unemployment, the growth of the economy and the intensive fight against tax evasion. “Even a freshman knows how taxes can be reduced and increased revenue,” he commented.

At the same time, he accused PASOK that, like SYRIZA, he was calling for additional support measures at the same time that he denounces the increase in revenue, asking the question “where will these measures be funded” and whether “Mr. Androulakis discovered the money”.

In closing, Mr Marinakis noted that “the country has paid dearly for political opportunities” and assured that the government will continue to focus on the support of the middle class, the reduction of unemployment and the permanent strengthening of society.

In detail Pavlos Marinakis’ statement

From today’s statement by PASOK’s spokesman on the occasion of the prime minister’s weekly post, 3 reasonable questions arise:

First, does PASOK keep in mind a tax that the government has increased or is it consciously lied to the citizens?

The New Democracy government, from 2019 until today, has reduced or abolished 72 direct and indirect taxes. We are reminded, among other things, the significant reductions in ENFIA and income tax for households and businesses, the abolition of the solidarity levy for employees and business fees for freelancers, reductions by almost 6% on insurance contributions, reduced taxpayers for agricultural degree etc.

On the contrary, not a single tax rate has increased, with the exception of the increase in ENFIA by 2026 for the closed real estate of banks and funds in order to market them.

The government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis believes in reducing taxes and this will continue to do, as citizens are justified, with emphasis on the middle class.

Secondly, do PASOK understand the difference between tax rates and tax revenue?

In a nutshell, even a freshman at an Economic University, knows that taxes can be reduced and at the same time increasing tax revenue. We have been implementing this policy since 2019 and the increase in revenue with reduced rates is due to three main reasons:

– Reducing unemployment, as 500,000 people now have a job and while unemployed were paid by the state through unemployment benefits, they now contribute to revenue through taxation and insurance coverage.

– In the fight against tax evasion with significant results for public revenue and

– In the growth of the economy, since our country has one of the highest growth rates in the European Union.

A third question: How is it possible for PASOK, following the example of SYRIZA, to ask the government to proceed with additional support measures and at the same time denounce the increase in state revenue?

Where will these measures be funded? SYRIZA did not find the “money” he promised. Did Mr. Androulakis and his party “discovered” them?

Our country has paid very expensive, for decades, the price of the “apprentice magicians” and the political opportunists, who were playing with the anxieties of the citizens, sharing money that did not exist and giving … “uncovered” promises. We still have a long way to go, since no one claims that there are no significant problems that we have to deal with, with the first and most of the increased cost of living.

The only way to continue to cover the distance that separates us with the rest of Europe, in terms of the disposable income of the citizens, is to constantly grow the “pie”, through reducing unemployment, the growth of the economy and the treatment of tax evasion, and then to implement permanent support measures.

Tsoukalas: Government exchanges the financial bleeding of citizens with crumbs

Had preceded PASOK’s spokesman, Kostas Tsoukalaswho accused the government of “exchanging the financial bleeding of crumbs”, arguing that the € 1.2 billion target for the primary surplus in January – July came from a “tax” at the expense of the middle class and the middle class.

In his statement, he stressed that in the four-year period 2020-2024, tax burdens increased five times more than the nominal increase in wages and pensions, with government surpluses depriving valuable market resources. “This year, Greek tourism has experienced it in its towel,” he noted, adding that the prime minister’s “festivities” are “out of place and time” both in relation to social needs and the impasses of his policy.

Referring to Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ position that “we have an economy that produces benefits that are returned to society”, Mr Tsoukalas accused the prime minister of “underestimating the intelligence of the citizens”, who – as he said – know that the government “exchanges them”.

The whole statement of Kostas Tsoukalas:

The prime minister celebrates the $ 1.2 billion target for the primary surplus in January -July.

A surplus that came from the taxation against the middle class and the popular strata through indirect and direct taxation.

In the four years 2020-2024, tax burdens increased five times more than the nominal increase in wages and pensions.

Mitsotakis surpluses are missing money from the market. This year the Greek tourism experienced this year. That is why his festivities are out of place and time both in terms of the needs of society and the impasses of his policy.

As for his aversion that “we have an economy that produces benefits, returned to society”, it directly underestimates the intelligence of citizens, who know that the government exchanges their financial bleeding with crumbs.