The government is moving forward "with serious and measured steps on the path of Europe and common sense,” Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis stressed in an interview with the OPEN television station on Thursday.
“ I don’t know if the opposition disagrees with the battle we waged against tax evasion, which had significant results, thanks to which we are able to support vulnerable groups such as low-income pensioners, the disabled and tenants. Would they prefer that tax evasion and social injustice continue and that we are unable to support groups in need,” he said, referring to the measures announced earlier in the week regarding a 250-euro benefit to vulnerable groups and the one-month's rent rebate for those in rented accommodation.
Hatzidakis noted that these interventions were not pre-election handouts but permanent, and that they are based on the overperformance in executing the 2024 budget. He noted that the surplus was the result of high growth and actions to address tax and contribution evasion (via the Digital Labour Card), which were implemented in spite of the reactions.
“ We all like to be popular. On the other hand, I would have regrets if I had the problem of undeclared work and tax evasion in front of me and said 'leave it for the next person'. Between being temporarily popular and accepting criticism but having a result, I prefer the latter. I do not claim infallibility, but what we all seek in the government is to move forward on a European path, in a common sense spirit so that we can leave some mark. I am glad that the citizens in the 2023 elections appreciated it, because they chose the party that promised the least. And the least can ultimately mean the most,” emphasised the deputy premier.
Regarding the measures announced on Tuesday, he pointed out that they constitute steady steps forward, following those made since 2019, such as the reduction of 72 different taxes, the unfreezing of increases in pensions and salaries of civil servants, the 100 euro allowance for the Security Forces, and others.
Hatzidakis also noted that the government has no reason not to exhaust its margins for taking action provided this does not jeopardise fiscal stability, adding that the surplus should be returned to the people who need it most: “ We are measuring the resilience of the economy and the budget. We have gone as far as we can go without the country entering a process of excessive deficit.”
“ We say specific things and do not give more than we can bear. We consistently combine fiscal prudence with social policy. And this is reflected in the measures we have presented. Progress returns as a social dividend to the most vulnerable and in the further strengthening of the Public Investment Programme,” he added.
Hatzidakis said that the Prime Minister will announce a second round of initiatives in September at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), which will focus mainly on tax cuts and supporting the middle class and will also be a reflection of progress in the economy.
"We will see the margins that exist, based on the course of the economy, the course of the budget, the discussions with the EU regarding the measures that are considered to have a permanent effect and regarding the escape clause for defence," he said.
Regarding housing, he underlined that after many years of non-existence of a housing policy, the government is implementing a package of 40 initiatives worth 6.7 billion euros, which include, among others, the first and second "My Home" (Spiti Mou) programmes, the  rent rebates to tenants, actions to utilise state-owned real estate in order to construct and put new homes on the market and action to restrict short-term rentals in saturated areas. Also, the subsidised programmes for home renovation and the doubling of ENFIA for bank properties that are not available on the market are measures aimed at both supporting tenants and increasing the supply of housing stock.
"I do not claim that these measures have solved the problems, nor that we are infallible. But with serious and measured steps we are supporting the economic prospects of the country. We say less than others, that is why we try to do everything," he concluded.