Greek Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis announced that upcoming economic measures will be permanent for all citizens. Speaking in an interview on the vidcast Politics hosted by News24/7, Marinakis detailed government plans ahead of prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's announcements at the Thessaloniki International Fair.
The government spokesperson emphasized that all relief measures will be funded strictly from secured revenue rather than temporary borrowing. He added that every commitment made at the annual trade exhibition will be fully reflected in the state budget and implemented in practice.
Addressing the early repayment of public debt, Marinakis acknowledged that debt reduction does not immediately put money into citizens' daily pockets. However, he maintained that it strengthens economic credibility, attracts foreign investment, increases exports, and creates new jobs. Responding to opposition demands to spend debt funds on immediate relief, he explained that European fiscal rules and expenditure caps forbid using debt repayment reserves for state handouts, though early payoff saves significant interest costs over time.
Marinakis named imported inflation as the single greatest challenge facing Greek households, particularly lower-income earners and the middle class. He contrasted the administration's policy with past governments, asserting that decades of living beyond national means since 1980 due to political rivalries had mortgaged the future of younger generations. He said current revenues stem from combating tax evasion, creating jobs, and lowering tax rates rather than over-taxing citizens.
Upcoming Fair Announcements and Pension Policies
Clarifying fiscal constraints ahead of the Thessaloniki gathering, Marinakis ruled out a full restoration of 13th and 14th pensions alongside 13th and 14th salaries for public sector workers. He stated that restoring those annual payments would require 8 billion euros, whereas available state funds currently stand at slightly over 1 billion euros. While acknowledging that income thresholds can feel unfair to middle-income retirees needing support, he defended income criteria as necessary due to limited resources. The primary goal remains distributing available funds fairly through permanent adjustments across the public, private, and self-employed sectors, avoiding temporary lump-sum allowances.
On the national housing crisis, Marinakis highlighted the success of the My Home I and My Home II programs, which assisted over 30,000 young people in securing private homeownership. He did not rule out a future My Home III initiative if additional funding is secured, but emphasized that structural relief depends on tax incentives and tax relief to expand market supply. By encouraging property owners to lease vacant units, the government aims to increase housing availability and curb rising rent prices.
Addressing short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb, Marinakis argued that vacation rentals are not the primary driver of rent increases, pointing instead to long-term vacant properties. To counter this, the government is offering tax exemptions and renovation subsidies of up to 36,000 euros for property owners who convert short-term listings into long-term rentals or reopen vacant houses. He noted that restrictions are also being imposed in congested areas, suggesting long-term measures to render keeping properties empty financially unattractive.
Freelancer Taxation and Domestic Political Debates
Turning to self-employed workers, Marinakis addressed complaints regarding presumptive income tax criteria. He stated that digital measures against tax evasion, including mandatory electronic payments and the IRIS instant payment system, have boosted public revenue while allowing tax rate reductions. While acknowledging dissatisfaction among freelancers, he stated that presumptive criteria are not intended to be permanent. He promised that the government will consider gradually phasing out presumptive tax rules for compliant taxpayers who adhere to POS terminal usage and digital work cards.
Marinakis also responded to recent public commentary by former prime minister Alexis Tsipras. While noting that no political opponent should be taken lightly, Marinakis dismissed arguments suggesting that economic conditions were superior in 2019 under the SYRIZA administration. He cited statistics showing that youth and female unemployment have been cut nearly in half since 2019, alongside the creation of 600,000 new jobs despite global crises, the pandemic, and regional wars. He added that comparing past economic underperformance with today's surge in investments and exports insults public intelligence.
Regarding price pressures, Marinakis stressed that Greece frequently records lower monthly inflation rates than the European Union average, particularly in food items. While stating that the administration is not celebrating these metrics, he criticized political opponents for exploiting international inflationary pressures. He reiterated that state income support must strictly match verified revenues to avoid returning to unsustainable fiscal practices.
Foreign Affairs and Aegean Security
Addressing foreign policy, Marinakis defended Greece's establishment of marine protected areas in the Aegean Sea. Using an athletic comparison, he stated that Greek marine parks were designed in full compliance with international law and EU approval within national jurisdiction. In contrast, he described Turkish objections and unilateral maritime maps as illegal actions without international standing, calling them media fireworks. He asserted that Greece has strengthened its international position through Exclusive Economic Zone delimitations, territorial sea extensions, and defense modernization programs.
In response to criticisms from former prime minister Antonis Samaras regarding dialogue with Ankara, Marinakis recalled that previous prime ministers, including Samaras, regularly met with Turkish leadership during periods of high tension, following the national line of dialogue. He observed that adopting aggressive rhetoric is easy when out of office, whereas the current government balances diplomatic dialogue with enhanced military deterrence. Furthermore, Marinakis categorically assured the public that Greece faces no risk of direct involvement in ongoing regional military conflicts, though the armed forces remain vigilant.
When questioned about the redeployment of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems from Karpathos to Crete, Marinakis declined to discuss tactical military maneuvers. He rejected claims of weakness or capitulation, emphasizing that the government has undertaken the most extensive reinforcement of national defense and foreign policy architecture in recent Greek history over the past seven years.
Digital Safety Regulations and Health Infrastructure
On digital policy, Marinakis stressed the necessity of protecting minors from online hazards, pointing to international trends that restrict mobile phone use in schools to promote traditional learning. He argued that unmonitored social media consumption damages children's critical thinking. Marinakis reaffirmed Greece's proposal at the European level for mandatory user identity verification during social media account creation. He clarified that users could still maintain public pseudonyms, but judicial authorities would gain the ability to identify perpetrators of online crimes, cyberbullying, and disinformation.
Finally, Marinakis addressed questions regarding Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis wearing Meta AI smart glasses equipped with built-in cameras. Marinakis affirmed that personal data protection laws apply equally to all public officials. However, he argued that media focus on tech gadgets distracts from real health sector achievements, including the ongoing renovation of health centers and hospitals alongside wage increases for medical personnel.
