The president of PASOK returned to the issue of accuracy and private debt, resubmitting a topical question to the prime minister. Nikos Androulakis he had tabled the question on October 6 as wellbut was not scheduled for debate that week on Prime Minister’s Hour.
The text of the current question:
“Mr. Prime Minister,
According to the official data of ELSTAT, since 2020 food prices have jumped by 34.5%. Only in July 2025, compared to the corresponding month of 2024, an increase of 19.3% was recorded in fruits, 18.9% in electricity and 11.3% in rents, while in August the price increases in house rents (10.9%), fruits (11.6%), chocolates (23.2%) and coffee (18.5%) stand out. This is a dead end situation for households struggling to meet basic needs.
According to the recent bulletin of the Inflation Observatory, the Bank of Greece (BoG) is proceeding with an unfavorable revision of its forecasts for inflation in Greece in the coming years, at levels significantly higher than the average in the eurozone.
It is worth underlining that the significant review at hand for inflation in Greece is attributable to the unexpected increase in the individual price index for food and services.
In addition, ELSTAT’s new annual survey of family budgets for 2024 records an increase in the average monthly expenditure, which, however, does not result from an equal increase in consumption, but due to price increases in basic food items (e.g., oil, flour, bread, cereals).
The most vulnerable strata especially, receive the greatest pressure from inflation: According to ELSTAT always, for the poorest 20% of the population the share of the average expenditure on food and housing amounts to 55.9% of household expenditure.
The above data certify what is a common consciousness in Greek society: that your government has become a sponsor of accuracy.
At the same time, you have turned inflation into a key economic policy tool. The reality is relentless: Greek households paid 25 billion euros in VAT in 2024, compared to 12.9 billion in 2019. And all this at a time when Greeks are competing with Bulgaria for the last place in purchasing power in the EU, while half of our fellow citizens declare that they cannot afford a single week of vacation.
PASOK has firm positions for the fight against precision, for the benefit of the most vulnerable and the middle classes: Reduction to zero of VAT rates on basic products, reinforcement of the Competition Commission and DIMEA to carry out essential checks on the market, strengthening of the consumer movement and creation of a Consumer Protection Authority.
At the same time, private debt is swelling. The bad loans amount to 73 billion. The overdue debt to the D.O.Y. stands at 111.8 billion, with 4.6 million A.F.M. to owe this amount. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, unpaid taxes exceeded 3 billion euros, while new debtors increased by 470,000. Overdue debts to social security agencies exceeded 49.3 billion, of which 32 billion are related to main debts, while the rest to surcharges. The possibility of settling debts in 24 installments did not provide any viable way out for the vast majority of debtors. The number of registered debtors is estimated at 2.2 million, with 90% of them owing up to 30,000 euros. In total, overdue debts to banks/funds and the State amount to over 234 billion at the end of 2024, when in the previous year they were tolerated at 224 billion.
The extrajudicial mechanism, which the government presents as a solution, has yielded little. Servicers surprise and extort debtors with complaints and start auctions even during negotiations. Without home protection and no bargaining power, borrowers are forced, under the threat of auctions, into arrangements that are unrealistic based on their income. Based on data from servicers, almost half of the arrangements within the first years redden again.
The policy of inactivity and tolerance of funds’ speculation leads to the further expansion of private debt, undermines the cohesion of society, undermines the country’s productive base and threatens the economy with de-Hellenization.
Mr. Prime Minister,
Given that to date you have not only not adopted PASOK’s well-documented and fair proposals for dealing with precision and private debt using flimsy arguments, but have refused any discussion of them, ask:
1.- Does your government intend to take immediate and targeted measures to combat precision, such as reducing or eliminating VAT on basic goods and significantly strengthening market controls to ensure a real reduction in prices for the consumer, or will you continue to choose to maintain the “surpluses”, which arise due to persistent precision and indirect taxes, and operate at the expense of the majority of society?
2.- Does your government intend to proceed with a realistic and sustainable settlement of the overdue debts of households and businesses that are unable to repay them both to the banks/funds, public and social security agencies?”