New Democracy press spokesperson Alexandra Sdoukou has defended government interventions in the energy crisis on Mega News TV, pointing to emergency relief funds.
Speaking on the Greek television channel, Sdoukou stated that the administration has already allocated 1 billion euros in emergency spending to subsidize fuel and fertilizer costs. She explained that officials evaluate fuel prices and crisis conditions every fortnight to decide if extra assistance is required.
Greece, an European Union member state subject to strict continental fiscal rules, previously announced an additional 2 billion euros in permanent support measures at the Thessaloniki International Fair, an annual economic policy forum. Sdoukou noted that any further state spending requires formal coordination with European authorities. She added that no single national government in the world possesses the capacity to tackle a global energy crisis entirely on its own.
Refinery profits and tax policy
Addressing opposition demands for a tax on excess refinery profits, Sdoukou rejected assertions that the government maintains a taboo against taxing oil companies. She pointed out that Greek authorities have implemented similar windfall profit measures in the past, but questioned whether a new tax could offer prompt financial support to households struggling with high living costs.
Sdoukou stated that revenue from taxing refinery profits could only be realized in the summer of 2027, after the relevant fiscal year closes and taxable gains are formally verified. Sarcastic about opposition proposals, she asked whether rival politicians possessed a time machine to transport unconfirmed future tax revenues into the present to help struggling citizens today.
Regarding calls to lower the fuel Special Consumption Tax, Sdoukou noted that the excise tax brings in 4 billion euros in annual revenue needed to meet public expenditure requirements. Lowering the rate would require fiscal coordination with European partners to avoid breaching EU deficit constraints. She also accused the opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement, known as PASOK, of hypocrisy for refusing to vote for a 120-instalment tax debt repayment scheme after previously lobbying for the regulation.
Party unity and voter trust
On internal political affairs, the spokesperson addressed public discussion surrounding absences from a special event marking 52 years since the founding of New Democracy. The ruling center-right party was founded in 1974, and current Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently urged party members to display modesty and focus on winning back the trust of the electorate.
Former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis did not attend the anniversary event, while senior party figure Vangelis Meimarakis was also absent. Sdoukou dismissed concerns over their non-attendance, remarking that ordinary voters do not keep roll call records when judging a political party. She described Karamanlis as a historical chapter for New Democracy whose standing remains unaffected, while clarifying that Meimarakis missed the event due to official duties at the European Parliament in Brussels, where he serves as a lawmaker.
Sdoukou concluded by reiterating that the government remains focused on practical economic relief for ordinary households. She stated that citizens judge the government by tangible results, specifically seeking lower price figures on gas station displays, which remains the central objective of ongoing official interventions.
