Greek Minister of State Akis Skertsos criticised opposition parties PASOK and ELAS for misinterpreting economic data to claim that the economy is collapsing. In a social media post titled beach analyses, he accused both parties of using selective statistical figures to serve a predetermined political narrative.
Skertsos said PASOK and ELAS compared economic performance in the first quarter of the year with the immediately preceding fourth quarter. He noted that every first year economics student knows such a comparison cannot yield safe economic or political conclusions about household disposable income.
The fourth quarter of each year includes Christmas bonuses, allowances, and increased seasonal income from tourism, Skertsos explained. These factors create strong seasonality that does not carry over into the first quarter of the following year. He added that serious economic analyses evaluate incomes on an annual basis by comparing each quarter with the same quarter of the previous year.
Economic Data and Disposable Income
Citing figures from Eurostat and the OECD, Skertsos stated that disposable income for Greek households rose by 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025. Total disposable income reached 39.13 billion euros, which he noted was the highest level recorded for a first quarter since 2010.
Long-term Eurostat data shows that real per capita disposable income for Greek households has grown by 17.1 percent since the first quarter of 2019. Skertsos pointed out that this increase significantly outpaces the 7.7 percent growth seen across the European Union and the 5.5 percent recorded in the Eurozone over the same period.
Skertsos said PASOK and ELAS either do not understand how to read economic indicators or are consciously choosing to mislead citizens. He argued that neither explanation inspires confidence in political parties that claim to be ready to govern the country.
Government Measures and Tax Reform
The minister stated that the government is not celebrating these figures because inflation continues to erode a significant portion of income gains. He said the fight to strengthen disposable income remains an ongoing daily effort for the administration.
To support household finances, the government is raising wages and pensions, cutting taxes and social security contributions, and supporting employment. Skertsos added that a new tax reform taking effect on January 1, 2026, increases net disposable income for workers, young people, and families with children by half to four net salaries. He concluded that citizens require seriousness and responsibility rather than hasty readings of statistics.
