Economic issues - Greek and international - were the main topics of discussion during a radio interview with Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Thanasis Kontogeorgis on "Skai 100.3" on Tuesday. The interview began, however, with the passing of Pope Francis.
"Humanity needs those who serve, in word and deed, solidarity, protection of the weak, inclusion, peace, universal human rights. Pope Francis was such a man. His loss is not only a loss for the Roman Catholic Church but also for all of humanity. We hope that his successor will follow the same path," Kontogeorgis stated.
The second issue was Euro-American relations, where he insisted that "all diplomatic means need to be exhausted." On our part, "we will coordinate with the joint decision of the European family," he noted, with the additional observation that "everything announced is tested at the level of markets, economies, societies." At the same time, the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister underlined the goal, "to hold the helm of fiscal stability firmly steady."
According to Kontogeorgis, "our priority is how to pass growth into the real economy and how we can further protect, despite the difficulties that exist, the income of our fellow citizens." This, he added, is something that can be achieved, among others, by ensuring resources for "public investments that return to society," in areas such as education, health, infrastructure projects, or water management, for example.
Moreover, he stressed that the government does not want to risk making the mistakes of the past but is seeking "growth that returns to society," while noting that it was a government choice "that interventions for income (tax relief, etc.) have a permanent character," while adding: "Any interventions announced have a permanent, lasting character. This gives security to every citizen to plan their future somewhat better, while our country ... becomes, as far as is possible, a safe investment destination."