Merchants in Al. Tsipras: The market has died before the war, since the autumn with the PPC bills

Traders, shopkeepers and consumers in Patras described the gloomy situation that the market is experiencing with the explosion of energy costs to Alexis Tsipras, during his tour of the city’s main shopping streets.

A common finding by most was that the accuracy came long before the war in Ukraine, with many complaining that “the market has been dead since the autumn, when inflated electricity bills started coming in.”

“We have been operating as a business for 25 years. It is very difficult. People do not have money. All the money goes to bills and household chores and they eat,” said a young couple who runs a clothing store, explaining that “clothes are now a luxury”. .

Another trader who has been running the family business in the center of Patras since 1929 noted that “our energy has crumbled. This money that is missing from the market goes to energy. The turnover has dropped by 30-40%. I do not know my grandfather with the war how it was .. I have been a trader for 25 years, it is the worst moment “.

A shopkeeper from the book area spoke of a drop in turnover to 50%. “The drop in turnover came before the war in Ukraine. After PPC, that is, since the energy bills came, the market is over. Especially in recent months. When the PPC bills came, with the adjustment clauses to the citizens “We are done,” he said.

State housing program for housing for young couples

At the same time, Mr. Tsipras had the opportunity after his tour to discuss with young people in Patras about the problems they face.

During the discussion, the biggest problem that arose was the issue of housing, which is an unaffordable luxury for many young people and young couples.

Mr. Tsipras stressed that our country, as other European countries do, should proceed with a state housing program that is given at low prices to young couples.

He even cited Portugal as an example, which does this by utilizing resources from the Recovery Fund, arguing that the funds of the Recovery Fund should be redesigned in our country in this direction as well.

Al. Tsipras: People know that they pay the Mitsotaki clause in the bills

Earlier, Mr. Tsipras after his tour of the Patras market made the following statement to the press:

“Wherever I am, in every corner of the country, in every city, in every market, the problems and the great anxiety are the same. I have long talked about the possibility of going to a great social crisis, if this precision, the scandal continues and this looting of the income of small and medium-sized producers, people of toil and creation, employees and retirees.

I saw the same in Patras. But at the same time, an indignation made of anger and rage, a political initiative for change, for claim. It is obvious, and now consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, households, the people who take the bills, understand that for months now they have been paying a frightening increase, the so-called adjustment clause which is the Mitsotaki clause. And it is a Mitsotaki clause, because it is due to the privatization of PPC in the midst of a crisis of precision, to the violent de-ligation, it is due to the ideological obsession that the market is supposedly self-regulating and we can leave it without state intervention, without controls and regulation. It owes its timidity to take substantial measures to support society in the face of an unprecedented crisis, such as the reduction of VAT, the reduction of VAT and the increase of the minimum wage, which has remained frozen for years.

The Greek people have understood that this government does not want and can not stand by the majority of the wintering society.
Today from Patras, I will say something that has been said again, but today it finds its true meaning and value, it is absolutely literal. If we do not change, we will sink. The country urgently needs a change of course. Society needs support, it needs a progressive government with a social sign, to save whatever is saved at this time. And to start the great work of rebuilding the society that is being plundered today “.

Visit to a factory

On Wednesday morning, Mr. Tsipras visited the Milk Pasteurization factory “Proto”, where he discussed with the management about the huge energy costs that threaten the viability of small and medium industries, as well as with the workers who can no longer cope. in their obligations.

Representatives of the cooperative called the government’s commitments that 80% of the adjustment clause would be returned to them a “mockery”. “In fact, they said the same thing about the channels, they made fun of us. They returned not even 20%. It would be better if they did not return them,” said representatives of the cooperative, showing the President of SYRIZA PS electricity bills, where for 8 thousand current the clause was adjusted. 12,340 euros, noting that these are accounts for October and November, “before the war in Ukraine”.

They even stressed that the increase in energy prices was compounded by the huge increases in feed that were exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. “We bought the corn for 20 minutes last May and now we buy it for 40 minutes. In total the production cost has increased by 80%” they noted and as they said they are fighting to keep prices as low as they can because the cooperative producer and enjoy a low price the consumer.

During the discussion, Mr. Tsipras expressed his anxiety for the next day, after even overcoming the risk of adequacy will be extremely difficult due to the large increase in costs that will have a chain effect, as a number of products will be missing that produced in the war zone.

As for the adjustment clause of 12 thousand euros, Alexis Tsipras commented: “12340 adjustment clause for 8,000 euros electricity and in fact … pre-war. And when we talk about the Mitsotakis clause, they accuse us of being populists.”

The evening will feature a TV interview given by Mr. Tsipras on the Ionian Channel news bulletin.