The Minister of National Economy and Finance appears optimistic about the course of the Greek economy Kyriakos Pierrakakiswho told Real News that at budget draft which is deposited tomorrow, public debt in 2026 will fall below 140% of GDP, freeing the country from a timeless slowly. Mr Pierrakakis also said that the government is planning new changes to short -term leasewith the aim of increasing the availability of houses in the long -term market. At the same time, he stressed that cooperation with the European Prosecutor Laura Kovesi It was extremely constructive, as for tax and customs fraud “the goals are common”. The government, he points out, intends to reinforce the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Athens so that investigations into customs can accelerate and the results are immediate and measurable.

Tomorrow you deposit the draft budget. Waiting for positive surprises for citizens?

We deposit a draft stability and perspective. The Greek economy will continue to grow at a steady rate of more than 2%, proving that it has left the crises behind.

I can give you a taste, as you will see all the items tomorrow with the deposit of the draft in the House. Public debt, a big bump for the country, is now steadily declining: for 2025 it is estimated to close at 145% of GDP, while in 2026 it will fall below 140%. This reflects the budgetary discipline and the confidence of our economy in markets.

It is a budget that combines growth potential with fiscal stability and creates the space to continue targeted society support policies.

After the TIF and the tax breaks, the feeling that a new round of positive measures would be announced in April 2026. Can you predict us about it? Is there the budgetary margin for this?

The measures we announced to the TIF are already a comprehensive family support package, middle class and young people. Each citizen, entering the platform www.taxcalc2025.minfin.gr, can see the annual benefit for his family. This is equivalent to a monthly salary increase in January or a generous reduction in taxes that will be seen in 2027 for freelancers.

For example, a family with two children and an income of 30,000 euros for each parent has an annual benefit, only from income tax, 2,400 euros. With three children the amount is increased to 4,200 euros, that is, a monthly increase of 350 euros for 12 months. The same is true for young people: a 25 -year -old with an annual income of 19,000 euros has a benefit of 2,243 euros a year or 186 euros a month.

I understand the anxiety of the citizens, but we cannot discuss the next measures, without even having been implemented what we have already announced. Our priority is to see their performance in practice, income and everyday life. Any subsequent decision will be judged exclusively by the course of the economy and the financial data of that time.

TIF tax exemptions, however, are actually neutralized by persistent accuracy, which plagues hundreds of thousands of households. Doesn’t that concern you?

We do not claim that the problem is completely solved with a tax relief. But it is a permanent breath that stays in the citizen’s pocket. At the same time, the latest figures show that inflation has fallen to 1.8%, significantly lower than last year. This means that prices are stabilizing, without the pressure of the supermarket basket disappeared.

Our strategy is double: to firmly reduce taxes and intervene with market controls and measures so that citizens’ income is gaining real value. Thus, step by step, accuracy will recede and everyday life will improve.

With rents being launched, the latest tax arrangements for closed real estate were a first step. Will you impose stricter rules on short -term lease in order to return more homes to the long -term market?

With the arrangements we are promoting, we give other motives to the owners to get closed real estate. For example, tax exemption will no longer be limited to 120 sq.m. For many children – there will be an increase of 20 sq.m. for each child over the two.

Teachers, doctors, nurses, nurses, and security executives will be able to rent with six -month contracts, without the owner in danger of losing the benefit of three years. In addition, if the tenant leaves prematurely, the exemption will not be rejected, since a new tenant is found within three months. With these steps we want to increase the offer of housing and give a substantial solution to the mortgage.

In short -term lease, we closely monitor developments. We do not want to “demonize” an industry that gives significant revenue to the country, but it is clear that a balance must be found between tourism and the ability of citizens to have an affordable home.

We have already taken action and extend in 2026 the ban on the disposal of new homes to three apartments in Attica. However, the emergency conditions in our mortgage force us to consider additional interventions. There are suggestions for more stringent offering restrictions, up to measures that affect the taxation of short -term lease. We have not yet made decisions, but it is clear that if necessary, we will move decisively to increase the availability of houses.

Both the prime minister and you are discounting in your public placements the positive course of the Greek economy in the coming months. Don’t you worry that it is affected by the recession in several eurozone member states? Do you think the Greek economy is sufficiently shielded?

We carefully monitor developments in the eurozone, where several member states are recording a slowdown or recession. But Greece has entered a different trajectory. In 2025 our economy is growing close to 2.2–2.3%, according to the European Commission and the Bank of Greece, far exceeding the European average.

Unemployment is steadily decreasing: it fell to 8.1% in August, with a decrease in the unemployed by nearly 72,000 people compared to last year. Investments are recovering, tourism has brought increased revenue in the country.

These evidence shows that the Greek economy is now more resistant to external turmoil. We are not complacent. With prudent fiscal policy, investment and reforms, we aim to turn this development into a real benefit for citizens’ income.

You met with European prosecutor Laura Kovesi, who was publicly expressed very warmly to you. Did the debate limit to customs or expanded to the scandals investigated by Mrs Kovesi in the country?

The discussion with Ms Kovesi was extremely constructive. We focused mainly on how to further strengthen our cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to hit tax and customs fraud more effectively.

We introduced her to the Customs Nextgen program, the big plan we have put forward to modernize customs, with a focus on digitization, load targeting and better border surveillance. We also talked about how we can utilize modern risk analysis tools, enhance the cross -border data exchange and have even closer cooperation in research. We will strengthen the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Athens to speed up investigations and expedite the results. In everything we discussed on tax and customs fraud, there was an agreement because our goals are common. Transparency, budget protection and combating any form of fraud that deprives citizens. There is a will, on the part of Greece and on the part of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, to take more dynamic actions together.

Despite the positive impact of TIF’s announcements, the New Democracy’s democratic percentage is currently far from the bar of self -reliance. Do you think the ruling party is ready to make government partnerships if this is required? If so, with which or what parties could you achieve consensus?

The New Democracy and Kyriakos Mitsotakis aim at self -reliance, because the only way can the country reform plan needed. However, citizens will decide with their vote.

We have proven that we can work together when it comes to national interest. The question is whether the opposition can overcome either “not at all” or its constant ambiguity when talking about PASOK. The country cannot proceed with “yes but”. You need clean answers and clean choices.

Former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has prevailed in recent weeks. Are you still worried about a “competitor” to the right of the New Democracy?

The New Democracy is 51 years old. It is the longest -running line of the country, because it has always managed to unite wider forces around the common goal of stability and progress.

In my opinion, what matters is the national interest: to multiply our strengths instead of disrupting them. Greece needs unity and pure orientation in the future.