Mitsotaki counterattack: Energy and social policy

By Dimitris Gatsios

The government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis is now entering one of the most critical turning points in its almost three-year course. With surges in prices and increases creating a “storm” for the budgets of millions of households and businesses, in the face of a crisis that … hits the whole society horizontally, strategies to reduce the impact on the daily lives of citizens are a field daily exercises and internal meetings at Megaro Maximou and financial staff. And the … unknown in the multifactorial equation of the crisis requires not only “safety cushions”, in order to have a continuity in the levels of support, but also in-depth movements, in order not to question the fiscal balance. According to government officials speaking to “K”, it is clear to the naked eye that the country (as well as the international community) is on a path with an unknown date of the end of the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In a period of geopolitical, economic, but also energy upheavals, where no one is able to know when the dot will … enter, as a punctuation mark and a sign of recovery, in this world adventure.

The present, but also the future

The big picture of the last few weeks is clear. The … bells of the polls regarding the messages sent by the citizens not only at the level of intention to vote, but, mainly, to the big “wants” of the shield against accuracy, sound at the central headquarters of the government. Attention is focused on halting price increases. But not only. Agents, in their discussions with “K”, bring to the forefront a logic of not defensive, but offensive strategy, with a view to both the present and the future. A strategy that moves in the field of energy, economy and strengthening the social profile of the government, a year and a little before, according to the prime minister, the date of the elections. “We have been and will be on the side of society and, above all, of the most vulnerable, for as long as this crisis lasts. That is why we always keep reserves,” is the message. And the initiatives are unfolding point by point.

The main goal

The government defines Greece as the No. 1 reference point in the field of Renewable Energy Sources. One step was the inauguration of the photovoltaic park in Kozani. The following are related to the investments that will be developed through the money of the Recovery Fund for the green transition. “The adaptation of the national energy and climate plan does not delay, postpone or reduce, in any case, all the actions of the program for the fair transition, which accompanies the policy of de-ligation … It is a strategic non-negotiable choice, “It’s my personal bet,” he said.

In the short run, the acceleration of motion for liquefied natural gas or LNG is added to the equation. By tanker in Revythousa. With the possibility of a second station in Alexandroupolis and discussions for a third station in Corinth. At the same time, in the middle of next week, there will be official announcements for the exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits in the Ionian regions, but also west of Crete. As expected, the crisis in Ukraine has changed the data in our wider region. In fact, in the light of the Russian threats for a blockade on natural gas, the ferment at European and international level is intense, with Athens accelerating research aimed at completing and upgrading the puzzle of energy security. The road, of course, will be long, as well as the research that will be carried out on the reserves that exist in Greece, however the whole framework of the strategy comes and this to be added to the upgraded energy agenda of our country.

“We are moving forward with the interconnection with Egypt. We are moving forward with the modernization of the networks. The mix we are betting on is Renewable Energy Sources, energy self-sufficiency, independence from Russia. The ultimate goal is to turn the country into a strong energy transit route.” comment executives.

The look at the citizens

In a time parallel to the movements on the front of energy self-sufficiency and security, the demand has to do with the ever-increasing needs of the citizens, in a period of intense liquidity and anxiety.

In this regard, the only sure thing is that the Maximos Palace will constantly feed the pool of support measures, awaiting the decisions of Brussels on what Athens calls “a common European response to a common European problem.” And the next Summit, in this context, acquires special weight for what is to be born. “No national budget in any European country can lift the burdens caused by the explosion in the energy market, which, unfortunately, is constantly ignited by the fire of the Russian invasion. It is therefore absolutely necessary at the next Summit to take action to “Strengthening the productive fabric of our countries and all European citizens, of households that are besieged by international price increases after the pandemic. And in this period our decisions must be based on data that reflect real needs and realistic possibilities,” he notes. Mr. Mitsotakis.

Stimulating the government’s social profile is, according to executives, another big bet. How is this going to be done; As they observe, the implementation of the next wave of decisions related to subsidies for electricity and gas is coming, with the second increase of the minimum wage (the relevant announcements will be made on May 1 by the Prime Minister), with the strengthening of the income of the weakest through the emergency aid of 200 euros, which will be given before Easter, with the program for housing for young people, with the bill for primary health care, which will come to Parliament after Easter.

“Energy security, green transition and social policy are the fronts of the coming months,” say factors. And this, according to information, will be reflected in the context that Mr. Mitsotakis will set at the 14th Congress of New Democracy.