In his weekly post reviewing the highlights of the previous week, released each Sunday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasised the ways in which government policy and reforms give true support and opportunities for a better life to the citizens that need them.
"We are implementing a policy programme focused on people and their daily problems, with the aim of making our country more European, more modern, safer and fairer," he said.
The prime minister referred to the latest legislation for speeding up justice by transferring certain routine procedures from courts to lawyers and notaries as the latest example of such measures. He also cited the latest figures for the improved out-of-court settlement mechanism, such as a doubling of applications in February and the record number of settlements reached.
He noted the success of a measure to encourage pensioners to return to work and reduce undeclared work by pensioners, saying this would boost economic activity and state revenues.
The prime minister then spoke of the impact of various social programmes targeting the disabled, affordable childcare, affordable housing, afternoon surgeries to reduce waiting times for operations, as well as highlighting the support measures for farmers, including the masterplan for the reconstruction of flood-stricken Thessaly.
On the issue of youth violence and bullying in schools, particularly recent incidents in Thessaloniki targeting individuals of the LGBTQI community, he pointed out that arrests had been made and that the matter was now in the hands of justice.
Stressing that the government is opposed to all forms of violence that threaten security and social cohesion, Mitsotakis said the police presence will become stronger and that this extends to universities as well, noting that such actions will have legal repercussions and penalties. He also pointed to steps taken within schools to counteract bullying.
The prime minister concluded his message by referring to the "Our Ocean Conference 2024" taking place in Athens on April 16-17, saying an effort will be made to get specific commitments for the protection of the maritime environment from the governments participating.