The government’s announcements from the Thessaloniki International Exhibition and what the major opposition has proposed from the same step were at the heart of the radio interview of State Minister Akis Skertsou in Sky 100.3.

Starting with a general observation, he said that “we need more truth, more moderation, more consensus to go all the way together. This is a key compass and guide of the Prime Minister and the policies that have been implemented from 2019 to the present. “

In his criticism of the political opponents of the government, he noted: “We have heard much worse than the opposition, which unfortunately has almost been trapped in a lies.” While when this happens, “we cannot leave it unanswered. We do not need to exchange heavy categories constantly, “he added.

Specifically for government and opposition relations, “with PASOK there may be convergences on national goals, the difference is largely found in how to reach these national goals.”

In this case what PASOK president – Movement for Change Nikos Androulakis presented, these are “a green program of Thessaloniki. It was an unnecessary program. Etymologically the “truth” means “non -oblivion”. We should never forget what happened in previous years, we have a basic acquis that we have to guard ” -and this is that no program can fall on the table without being costly.

“We measured the cost of yesterday’s announcements by Mr. Androulakis, he did not do it himself, although he was asked persistently at the press conference, he did not give a number,” was the first observation of the Minister of State for Androulakis. And after taking away what, as he said, “they stay in the bullet of ambiguity”, he calculated the cost of PASOK’s basic announcements at $ 4 billion, “when the surplus fiscal space is 1.6 – 1.7 billion, which is the measures we announced last week.” In detail, at $ 4 billion, the reinstatement of the 13th salary, the tax scale, the reduction of VAT on basic goods, etc. are cumulatively estimated. Basic announcements of the opposition.

In particular, only “the 13th salary costs $ 1.35 billion,” he said, “PASOK argues that insurance contributions should not be accounted for as costs, but unfortunately for that European accounting rules regard costs and insurance contributions. So the cost is 1.35 billion euros, “he concluded.

Beyond that, “the price of the tax scale with a price of 2.5% costs € 400 million a year, but this is not once, we will have so much more and so on,” he said at the same time clarification that “we do not reject it”.

Also observing that an inflationary crisis can lead to fiscal derailment, he also called for “when we propose some things, we must see the big picture and make responsible proposals”.

In the VAT chapter, he stressed that “the reduction of VAT on basic goods has been calculated from 1 to 1.8 billion euros and the debate is concerned and whether it is an effective measure.” In addition, he added, “where this measure was implemented, it did not bring the expected results. In Spain, cited by PASOK, it was implemented (the measure) for a few months and the government took it back. On the contrary (there) food inflation cumulative in recent years has been taller than food inflation in Greece. “

Conclusion; “Every euro counts, every cent is counting and must have from the finite resources we have, from the collective effort and the world of the world, to make targeted interventions that get a place.”

And, coming to the measures announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, “measures that will arrive from January 1, 2026, in the pocket of all citizens. In large families, if they both work, they will have four additional salaries a year. In the three additional salaries if both work, in the family with two children 1.5 salary and so on. ” And, addressing the opposition, he asked: “Will Mr. Androulakis vote for the measures or not?”

On the contrary, he continued, the measures that the opposition leader proposed, “lead to fiscal derailment and surveillance. Do we want to live again? Is this the policy of responsibility that we should all serve? “He further asked.

The relationship between direct and indirect taxes was subsequently set, with the Minister of State saying that “the elephant in the room is tax evasion”. However, he insisted, “PASOK said nothing about dealing with tax evasion.”

On the contrary, he pointed out, “the ratio of direct and indirect taxes has been improving in recent years.” Something that is achieved, he added, thanks to the two axis reform. The first concerns “the digitization of transactions through which the surplus emerged. The VAT he escaped is attributed to a much greater extent. “

The second axis has to do with “a very difficult reform, with political costs, for a fairer taxation. It is not a freelance professional to declare a lower annual income than the employee employing the minimum wage is the minimum that had to be done. “

In this way we are led to “a fairer society and a fairer taxation”, when “the revenue caused two in ten Greeks”.

And then, “all these measures lead the country into a virtuous circle in the sense that we maintain fiscal stability and responsibility, we are not a country that produces deficits and debts. We are a country that has reduced public debt by 50 units from the crowning era. We are a country that goes beyond estimates of surplus. ” A surplus, which “we are able to return to society through tax cuts and increases of disposable income. We are a government that “puts” them with tax evasion. “

The next argument was the Minister of State was that both direct and indirect taxation are reduced: in particular, “25 indirect taxes have been reduced from 2019 until today, with a total of 83 tax cuts.”

Recalling that “VAT on food is in 13%in the middle of the scale,” he accused the government’s opponents saying: “Another fake moved by PASOK and other opposition parties (is that) there is no European directive that obliges the states of the states. It is an option. “

Asking, “more truth, more responsibility, more measurement and measure, realism”, A. Skertsos emphasized that “the country is going better and a party cannot be identified as a progressive to be a denial of progress.”

In addition, “the country with many difficulties goes forward and all I hear is an absolute leveling and an absolute blackness.”

And, in closing, he spoke of a major tax reform for the following reason: “There is a brave redistribution in favor of young people.” In this case, “for the first time the government puts its hand in the pocket and says that young people up to 25 years will be taxed at a zero rate, and with a 9% tax rate young people will be taxed from 25 to 30 years. For the first time in the country, young people are supported to try, find a better job with higher income, to be able to make their own home earlier and, if they wish, their own family. “