K. Mitsotakis: The policy of tax reduction has not been completed yet – Growth will exceed 7%

LAST UPDATE: 01:57

By Dimitris Gatsios

“I have asked the Minister of Labor to immediately start the process for a second increase in the minimum wage, which will be implemented from May 1 this year. I estimate that the increase in the minimum wage will be significant. It will be much larger than the increase. 2% seen by employees from January 1, 2022 “.

This was emphasized by the Prime Minister, in an interview given to Antenna, estimating that the growth will exceed 7%. “The tax reduction policy is not yet complete,” he said, announcing new market support measures.

“Tomorrow the co-responsible Ministries of Finance and Labor will announce a new framework for supporting businesses and workers in sectors that have been affected by what has happened since the New Year. I am referring to both the culture and the catering sectors. possibility for two weeks in the first phase to put 25% of their employees on suspension so they are not actually paid by the company … It is an important intervention. Our purpose is to protect the jobs … We want to give a additional safety net, until we can return to full operation … “, stressed Mr. Mitsotakis.

At the same time, the Prime Minister noted that the government does not intend to further extend the measure of obligation. “On Monday fines will be confirmed … There is a choice to do the right thing … The fine is not obligatory. You are vaccinated and you do not pay a fine … It does not mean obligation without sanction … At some point the experts’ assessment is the pandemic to become an endemic … and it is possible that we will have to be vaccinated annually … “, he pointed out and ruled out the possibility of a new lockdown.

“There will be no lockdown. There has not been and there will not be… I say it based on the data I have today … the lockdown is ruled out based on the data we have at the moment … The economy has grown rapidly, taxes “They decreased, unemployment decreased. All this is not negligible …”, noted Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

In his interview, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, among others, stressed:

For the pandemic

-We are moderately optimistic about the evolution of “Omicron”. Omicron causes significantly lower morbidity. This does not mean that we should not be on the lookout. We do not have intubation from Omicron. But a positive element is that Omicron is displacing the Delta and we will have de-escalation. To expand vaccination everywhere in the world … To expand vaccinations, to do tests and to take safety measures. We took the measures at the right time.

– I understand the fatigue and irritability of people. We have 82% of adults who have been vaccinated. Greek society cooperated. He took it for granted with a few exceptions. We kept the economy open and we had growth that will exceed 7%.

– People who lose their lives today are unvaccinated in old age. I can not accept the opposition hysteria. We doubled the ICU. We have hired whoever was available. We did what was humanly possible. To make bold interventions in the health system …

– The country has a national health system. Public and private, working together. Possibly these days we see the maximum pressure on the NSS. The health system will not collapse.

– The study of Tsiodra and Lytra did not tell us something we did not know. Obviously it is better to be in an ICU. The statement should have been better worded. Even outside the ICU there is a basic care for the patient. But, what is observed in Greece is observed all over the world…

For vaccines and schools

– We are now in a position to say that we have reached the European average. Operation Freedom was a great success. Greece is one of the test champions in Europe. The decision to open the schools was justified. We allowed the children to return to their natural space…

– My relationship with Sotiris Tsiodras is excellent. He backed down because he received a barrage of vulgar attacks.

– I avoid the need to close schools. And I do not think it will happen. The way we handled the schools was serious. 50% plus one was suggested to us by the committee.

Climate of consensus in the political forces

– Do not confuse the negotiation with the government … the official opposition said the opposite of what the government said. This tactic was chosen by its leader. I imagine he will be judged for this in the next elections. When this measure is lost it is not good. We did not hear any substantive proposals from the opposition …

Economy – unemployment

Unemployment fell to 13% and something. We are not going to say that we are satisfied, except when the percentage becomes a single digit. If the fog of the pandemic and the temporary problem of accuracy are gone, everyone believes that the economy has long-term prospects.

– We created 60,000 jobs in the pandemic. We want to create 80,000 jobs. I am optimistic about the course of the labor market.

VAT

Asked about the VAT reduction, the Prime Minister said: “Our first priority at the moment is not to derail our fiscal policy from January. We have to make a significant adjustment in 2022, there would not always be times when Therefore, any intervention that calls into question the revenue targets, we must be absolutely sure that we can support it. We should have been absolutely sure that the reduction in VAT would eventually reach the consumer and not be lost in the value chain. “We need to have a picture of the implementation of the budget objectives.”

Elections at the end of four years. Not in reorganization

Mr. Mitsotakis pointed, again, towards the completion of the four years.

“I have pledged to run out of four years because I think this is institutionally correct and imperative. I have no intention of changing my view. that the situation in the country in 2023 will be better than it is today, so I do not expect things to get worse, because I believe that things will get better and because I am absolutely convinced that the economy will recover and, God willing, “We will have finished the pandemic earlier, I have no hesitation in telling you that we want to run out of four years,” he said.

At the same time, among others, he noted:

For the possibility of reorganization

-No. This concept of electoral reform has always existed. What was the electoral reform? “In which regions are we not doing well, if we put any deputy minister from those regions, to stimulate the party’s ability to go to the polls with better possibilities?” Does this logic fit in with what you know about me? The changes I have made to the government have been few, because I have always believed that there must be continuity. And the only criterion was the effectiveness of the ministers and their ability to serve the specific portfolio that I entrusted to them.

For a great alliance and collaborations

I have said many times that with SYRIZA we are separated by an abyss. Abyss of politics, abyss of culture, abyss of values, according to my own assessment always. I have also publicly stated that I am in favor of stable governments ensuring an enhanced proportional electoral system. I find it perfectly reasonable and justified if a party gets 38% that it has a strong popular legitimacy, to be able to govern on its own… We are a government that proposes efficiency. Well, these governments, especially in times of crisis, are more appropriate. For think…

– I believe that the New Democracy today expresses what many would call a progressive, moderate center. And it expresses it with implemented policies. And I do not believe that our sovereignty in this area will be substantially challenged… New Democracy today is the great patriotic progressive faction of the place. And what we have achieved in our country I must tell you that for the data of the other parties of the European People’s Party, of our European friends, is I would say something exceptional with the data at least the European ones.

Therefore, my intention is to be able to form an autonomous government. I emphasize that autonomy does not trap us in the need to use only executives who come from the New Democracy. But because I advocate speed and efficiency, but also consistency, in the next elections we will be judged on what we will do in the next four years, on what we will say. But we will also be judged on what we did and how consistent we were with our election program despite the fact that we managed unprecedented crises.

Now, you asked me about Mr. Androulakis. I do not have much to tell you because I have not heard much. I have heard some very interesting general statements that he wants to form a social democratic government, so he is de facto placed in the center-left and not in the center-right apartment building, I understood that from what he said.

The target, the bar in simple analog can be at 46%, 47%. I’m not an atheist, I know it’s a very ambitious goal, but I did not vote for the simple analog. I was completely consistent in my belief in what is the best electoral system for the country.

For Turkey

“It is up to Turkey to choose the path of cooperation or tension”

Focusing on national issues, the Prime Minister said that he was not particularly worried about the possibility of a heated incident on the part of Turkey.

“The door to dialogue is always there. In what we disagree to agree that we disagree in a civilized way. The problem is not only the casus belli. But also the blue homeland. We have established defensive and diplomatic lines of defense. Greece has built a new framework of alliances… “Greece and Turkey are neighbors. It is up to Turkey to choose the path of cooperation or tension. We are ready for both,” he stressed.

As for the universities, Mr. Mitsotakis noted that the government is not going to take a step back. “The government has decided to resolve these issues… The majority demands that universities be places of knowledge. There is no way the government can take a step back,” he said.