Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis has signaled that Greece will gradually phase out imputed income tax criteria for self-employed professionals as government measures against tax evasion produce results.
Speaking in an interview with news website News 24/7 ahead of the Thessaloniki International Fair, Marinakis said fiscal room for new permanent support measures stands slightly above 1 billion euros.
He highlighted that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis never intended for imputed income criteria to serve as a permanent method of taxation for independent workers.
Tax Reform for Self-Employed Workers
Marinakis urged observers to pay close attention to upcoming announcements over the next few weeks regarding tax reform for independent workers.
He explained that as alternative measures to combat tax evasion are deployed and demonstrate concrete results, the government will evaluate eliminating imputed criteria either step by step or in full.
Imputed income criteria, known locally as tekmiria, are tax rules in Greece that evaluate a taxpayer's minimum taxable income based on lifestyle assets such as homes and vehicles or professional status rather than reported net revenue.
Thessaloniki International Fair Fiscal Measures
Refraining from detailing specific policies prior to the event, Marinakis outlined that government interventions announced in Thessaloniki will be permanent in character rather than temporary relief handouts.
He stated that target groups for the funds include pensioners, public sector workers, private sector employees, self-employed workers, and freelancers, with the explicit goal of achieving a fair distribution of available funds.
The spokesman set expectations regarding public demands, explaining that proposals such as restoring the 13th and 14th month salaries and pensions in the public sector fall outside available fiscal limits.
The Thessaloniki International Fair is Greece's premier annual economic event held every September in Thessaloniki, where the sitting prime minister traditionally delivers a major policy speech detailing government economic strategy and tax plans for the upcoming year.
Housing Policy and Vacant Properties
Addressing national housing challenges, Marinakis clarified that he does not know of any finished Spiti Mou III housing program ready for immediate announcement.
He did not rule out establishing a similar housing support scheme if the government can secure necessary financing.
Citing official data, Marinakis stressed that the single largest structural issue facing the Greek housing sector is the high number of closed and vacant residential properties.
The Spiti Mou, or My Home, initiative is a state-backed program providing subsidized low-interest mortgages to help young Greeks acquire primary residences.
Aegean Dispute and Marine Parks
Turning to diplomatic tensions with Turkey over marine protected areas, Marinakis described Turkish opposition and maritime claims as illegal and legally void.
He likened Turkey to a runner sprinting alone in his own garden, taking a medal, and placing it around his own neck.
Marinakis affirmed that Greece will execute all prescribed steps to defend its national interests and sovereign rights, adding that detailed foreign policy moves cannot be prejudged in a media interview.
Greece and Turkey have maintained long-running disputes over territorial waters and continental shelf limits in the Aegean Sea, where recent Greek initiatives for environmental marine reserves have renewed diplomatic controversy with Ankara.
Diplomatic Strategy and Samaras Criticism
Marinakis rejected recent criticism from former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras regarding the government's diplomatic engagement with Ankara.
He noted that Athens kept communication channels open with Turkey during Samaras's own premiership, stressing that conducting dialogue is distinct from making concessions.
Marinakis argued that adopting an aggressive diplomatic stance after leaving office is easy because it carries no responsibility, adding that such posturing does not strengthen national standing.
He called for an end to double standards and self-pity, urging confidence in a nation that has elevated its international standing through difficult years.
Antonis Samaras served as prime minister of Greece from 2012 to 2015 and led the ruling conservative New Democracy party during the European debt crisis.
Political Opposition and Next Elections
Commenting on domestic political opponents, Marinakis warned against treating any rival as negligible, pointing specifically to former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
He emphasized that a politician chosen by voters to lead the country deserves serious political attention.
Marinakis cautioned New Democracy that using Tsipras's past SYRIZA administration as its main election benchmark would mean losing the political contest before entering the pitch.
He concluded that the government's narrative must focus on moving forward rather than turning back.
Alexis Tsipras served as prime minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019 as leader of the left-wing SYRIZA party, which currently forms the principal parliamentary opposition to New Democracy.
