“The only ones who get ripped off are the fraudsters, the fraudsters, those who took money they shouldn’t have taken or more than they should have taken or while they shouldn’t have taken it at all, they were taking subsidies and based on the initiatives of the Greek Authorities, but also of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, they have now begun to steal and return back with the movements of the Police, the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime. So, those who shouldn’t get any more won’t get it and most of them, the vast majority of farmers and breeders, will get more money.”

This was emphasized by the government representative Pavlos Marinakis, speaking to the radio station “Parapolitika FM”, referring to the farmers’ mobilizations and the statements of Vassilis Feygas.

Mr. Marinakis covered the agricultural mobilizations by saying that they are carried out by farmers who have justified anxieties, they are partly justified in their tension, which arises from the need to get the money they are entitled to. “We absolutely share their anxieties. Let us say, of course, that no matter how right they are, the functions of the state, the movements of the rest of the citizens, should not be disrupted. Sometimes the situation can get out of hand, but the cooler ones must prevail. So, let’s not pit the agricultural world against each other. This is not the government’s intention. Mr. Feigas issued a statement to clarify his statement,” he added.

Regarding the subsidies and the schedule of payments, he said that in the weeks of November, farmers will see their subsidies, a total of 950 million will be paid, and he emphasized that the total payments will be made within 2025. So, we are talking about November.

Regarding the checks by AADE, he said that there was political will, because “we were the first government that did cross-checks and blocked payments, many payments and sent 5,200 TINs to the authorities, many of them to the criminal authorities” and noted that the payments will not be disrupted, but will be done exactly as the responsible minister, Mr. Tsiaras, has said.

Regarding the successive resignations that happened to OPEKEPE, he said that “all those who have testified so far in the examination agree on one thing: The story of the alleged silence or attempt to intervene, cover up by Maximos falls into the void. No one has said that any intervention has been made to cover up the case, to prevent the investigation. Even witnesses who cannot be said to be “close friends” of the central government.

He said that the government has shown unprecedented reflexes and cited a series of cases in stadiums, in universities, in prisons, in DOU, in urban planning, in illegal prescriptions and added:

“In this specific matter (OPECPE), it would be a lie to tell you that everything was done as needed. More should have been done, the Prime Minister also admitted, and much more is being done subsequently and in cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.”

Regarding the measures to deal with the water shortage and the planning for EYDAP, he said that “we are at five, not at five, on the issue of water scarcity and reserves, especially in Attica, and for this reason they will proceed immediately, that is, within the next few years, all the projects that were not done in the previous years will be completed.” He added by saying: “I remember that 51% of the Greek State is non-negotiable, so the privatization of water is once again “in the bucket”.

Regarding the amount of the increase in water tariffs, he said that “what we have as the first information from EYDAP, are very small amounts, but we are not the ones who will announce it, because it is a corporate decision that must be taken based on needs. But I say it again, our country had and will continue to have the cheapest water, but at the same time a responsible government, “and a responsible state must also look a little ahead – and here we are really talking about all five – and not leave the country exposed”.

On the abolition of ENFIA, the pre-employment tax, for freelancers he said that the government has reduced or abolished 83 direct and indirect taxes, including those that will be reduced from 1/1/2026. A self-employed person, he said, used to pay 29% tax, and now it goes to 20, 18, 16%, depending on the children, and 9% if he has three children and tax-free if he has many or very many children, if he is a company the tax went from 28% to 22%.

Referring to ELTA, he said that it was an official decision, necessary, as described by the management of ELTA, in the context of saving resources and the need for sustainability of the Organization. “We are talking about suspension of operations, from what I understand, a little more than 200 stores, which had minimal commercial activity. With which, essentially, the decision completes the rationalization of the network that had started in previous years,” he said and emphasized that the jobs of ELTA employees, the permanent employees, are fully guaranteed.