Current KINAL question: ‘Complete inaction of the government in the tsunami of accuracy and notoriety’ is reported ‘

The Parliamentary Group of the Movement for Change, which is headed by Michalis Katrinis, has blamed five ministers for “complete inaction” in the face of the “tsunami” of accuracy and scandal. Development and Labor and Social Affairs.

The Parliamentary Group of the Movement for Change states that households and businesses are “instruments of skyrocketing energy costs and constant price increases in commodities and goods” and at the same time the government is bragging about the country’s growth rates. As they point out, the representatives of the energy sector are sounding the alarm, predicting that the energy crisis will worsen, as Greece is completely dependent on energy imports.

It is clear that the most difficult is ahead of us, since Greek consumers are already paying 4 times more than in April 2020. In addition, the large increases in November-December will appear in the January-February bills which will be very “inflated” for households but also for businesses.

With our country having the highest average annual electricity price at European level in 2021 (115.01 euros per megawatt hour), the wholesale electricity price has skyrocketed from 65 euros in May 2021 to 415.94 euros on December 22, 2021 (with a maximum transaction price of 542.5 euros!) and the price of gas has climbed from 15 euros to 180 euros per megawatt hour this year, which government interventions cover a very small part of the real burden on households, leaving businesses completely helpless.

“As a result of these unprecedented conditions and the lack of business support, the outrageous increases are being passed on to the Greek people, who cannot meet their constant daily survival needs,” the MPs said in their topical question and warned that small increases in for household tariffs, are clearly not enough, while, despite the warnings of all experts, the government for two years, has not taken any concrete action to regulate the market for the benefit of consumers and both the Prime Minister and the relevant ministers , systematically tried to underestimate reality, reassuring citizens with misleading statements about the transience of the phenomenon and its alleged end by the end of this year.

The Movement for Change invokes the Center for Consumer Protection (KEPKA) and the Consumer Institute, which through their representatives, denounce the scandalous way of calculating the price of electricity, as well as the constant price increases in basic products.

At the same time the government refuses to admit the truth, celebrating the “growth of the Greek economy”, and the expected burden of imports due to the increased price of gas in 2022 will nullify the benefit of the expected increase in tourism revenues next year “, say the deputies of the Movement for Change and add that according to the latest announcements of ELSTAT, inflation reaches a record high of a decade, as in December and January it will exceed 5%, while the interim report of the Bank of Greece its jump to 3% for 2022 (from 0.6% in 2021).

“The prices of energy products have started to rise, as well as the production costs of basic food, fresh and packaged. There was a 21.6% increase in lamb and goat meat (mainly due to the increase in feed) 5.6% in prices poultry, 11.6% in potato prices and very large increases in the price of olive oil (18.5%) and other edible oils (corn oil – sunflower oil) by 16.7%, while the price of bread increased by 4 , 6% Also large increases are recorded in the prices of hotels, motels and inns (12.8%) and passenger transport by plane by (11.3%).

The overall wave of increases is disproportionately borne by farmers and stockbreeders, with production costs skyrocketing due to rising energy costs and the price of agricultural supplies.

In addition, in recent days and after the announcement of new measures to address the pandemic, prices have skyrocketed for products such as high protection masks, which are now mandatory on public transport and supermarkets.

“Meanwhile, while there is the relevant legal framework, the government refuses to impose a maximum price on these products, as it did with the tests, leaving the citizens defenseless in the immediate and unjustified price increases”, the MPs of the Movement for Change also state and add that ” Despite the communicative condemnation of speculation in the market by the competent ministers, the controls for the suppression of the profiteering phenomena are non-existent, with the government “hiding” behind the investigations already started by the Competition Commission and as it appears from its relevant announcements. “In the last six months, when there have been significant price increases in the market, inspections have been carried out only to crack down on illegal trade and the implementation of health protection measures, without any mention of any market price controls.”

The Movement for Change also refers to the research published by the Competition Commission, according to which “Greece is ranked as one of the most expensive countries of the EU and the OECD in the cost of using mobile data, a fact that is confirmed in the Pissaridis report but also in a number of other studies by independent bodies and organizations worldwide, with Greek consumers paying dearly for GB.

In all this tragic situation that the citizens are experiencing, the government is not taking the necessary measures. The announced 2% increase in the minimum wage has already been “gnawed” by increases in basic goods and basic necessities over the last 6 months, with no explicit commitment to raising the minimum wage to a satisfactory level. The measures taken by the government to date are not enough to effectively support Greek households and businesses, while the forecasts for energy costs and inflation for 2022 are extremely ominous. Gradually, all the extra costs will be passed on to the consumer. The recently adopted budget does not provide for support measures for households and businesses for 2022, despite the fact that the outbreak of the pandemic is having a serious impact on the market and the economy. The primary sector on which the productive reconstruction of the country is based bears a disproportionately high cost from the wave of precision, without receiving the appropriate support. The competent ministers are systematically trying to downgrade an unprecedented wave of price increases that is evolving and seems to have duration and intensity, stating that “apart from energy, there is no real increase in any product in Greece”, says the Parliamentary Group of the Movement for Change which “questions and accuses the co-responsible ministers”:

1) For the absence of a comprehensive coping strategy that continues to take on uncontrollable proportions.

2) For the absence of the control mechanism in the market for months, at a time when prices for basic goods are constantly rising.

3) For not taking effective measures, immediate and practical support of Greek households, which are severely affected by the continuing accuracy in energy and basic goods.

4) For not taking adequate support measures for small and medium enterprises, in order to absorb the increased energy costs and not to pass it on to consumers.

5) For the non-taking of extraordinary support measures of the primary sector, in total, except for the reduction of the taxation of the profits of the collective schemes to 10% and the inclusion of the feed in the exaggerated rate of 6%.

6) For the absence of controls and the imposition of maximum prices, in order to combat the phenomena of profiteering that appear in the market of health products related to the pandemic.

7) For the impossibility of regulating the energy market, for the benefit of the consumers, through and the timely adoption of guidelines by the electricity providers.

8) For the indifference of the Government in reducing the excessive cost of using mobile data for consumers.

9) For the lack of will for a substantial increase of the minimum wage that will strengthen the workers in the wave of precision.

Source: AMPE