“Opposition parties are in deep crisis and this is also reflected in polls”
The interview of the Vice -President of the Government, Kostis Hatzidakis, in the Realnews newspaper, both for current but not only political issues and for burning social issues, such as water scarcity.
Responding to the forthcoming debate in the Parliament of the proposals on the Tempi case, he said: “Every discovery would be a tragic mistake, but at the same time we will not join criminal populism. As in the case of Mr. Triantopoulos, we want Mr Karamanlis to refer to his natural judge, who will decide. Of course, relatives of victims have an unlimited right to believe anything. However, be careful: On the one hand, PASOK claims that Mr Karamanlis had accepted within him and did not care on this reason that 57 people would be killed. On the other hand, the other four parties that Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a betrayal. These are not serious things. It is an unbearable lightness. I don’t think there is a Greek who believes such things. “
Concerning the New Democracy MPs, Mr Hatzidakis expresses the conviction that “they will vote for the proposal submitted by our colleagues. And I would expect opposition MPs to do the same. Because it is somewhat contradictory to believe that in the case of Mr. Karamanlis the major, but not the minor. That is, the felony, but not the misdemeanor. “
Concerning the political scenarios of the next, after the election, day (self -sufficiency, government partners, etc.), the Deputy Prime Minister states: “Our pursuit is clear: self -reliance. Greece needs a stable government to continue its upward trend. The government implements – and will continue to implement a clear reform plan until the election. “
However, Kostis Hatzidakis also sets another very important-as he describes it-parameters: “In the second half of 2027, when Greece has the presidency of the European Union, the European Union’s long-standing budget will be decided for the period 2028-2034. This is a negotiation that concerns us directly for a number of critical areas, such as projects funded by the NSRF and our farmers. Who will represent the country? On the basis of all that all Greeks see today, I think, only Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the New Democracy can represent the country. “
In addition, “opposition parties are in deep crisis and this is also reflected in polls. Otherwise there would be a party that would capitalize on any dissatisfaction with the government. Also note the following: Opposition parties today say that they will not cooperate with either the New Democracy or with each other. While at the same time they do not have any governance plan. This is talking on its own. “
Asked about the constitutional review and PASOK’s criticism, he replies: “The constitutional review is a predominantly political process. The New Democracy will submit its proposals. And both PASOK and the opposition in general have to take a clear position: Do they want to register the evaluation in the public or not? They disagree with the removal of permanence and if so why? Will they support the change in Article 16 so that there is a more European framework in education? Citizens themselves, after all, in their overwhelming majority, are calling for these changes. Will the opposition hide, behind outdated doctrines? In any case, our country needs a modern and progressive constitution, which will allow it to move forward, at even greater speed. After all, it was never the purpose of the Constitution to sanctify the stillness. “
On the battle of accuracy, the deputy prime minister stresses that “inflation is a pan -European problem and continues to actually push the family budgets. In relation to the rest of the EU countries, we are up and down the average. The government, of course, has not remained inactive. We steadily strengthen citizens’ incomes. In relation to the actual income of the Greeks, we have risen from 60% of the EU average to 70%. And at the pan -European level we are from 14th to 17th place. At the same time, we enhance market transparency. In this regard, it was announced the creation of a new independent consumer protection authority, resulting from the evolution of the TIMA and the Consumer Ombudsman. “
At the same time, “we are promoting new functions for the e-consumer to be more useful for citizens and can even do their shopping through this system. We also made a compulsory marking on the products circulating in smaller packages to make the consumer more fully knowledgeable. In particular, however, I want to dwell on our initiative for popular producer markets. It is a tool to limit the gap to prices from the field to the shelf. All of this is modernizing initiatives that facilitate consumers, “he adds.
Regarding the Payment and Control of Community Orientation and Guarantees Payments and Audit, it clarifies that “OPEKEPE was not indeed an example of successful management. There have been failures in the past, for which steps were taken, such as The abolition of the prediction that existed on SYRIZA for those who had sheep without pastures. And the decision to absorb OPEKEPE by the HRAD emphasizes the prime minister’s own determination to become a new beginning on this issue. It is not a Greek “sad privilege” to impose fines or return of funds. Similar decisions have been recently eg. For Italy, France, Romania, but also for other countries. “
In any case, he adds, “the government will negotiate, as has been done in the past, with the European Commission to limit the impact. OPECEPE’s absorption by AADE is not just a decisive response to the problem. But perhaps a positive contribution to the relevant negotiations that will be made with the European Commission on the whole issue. “
The interview closes with the problem of water scarcity, a topic on which Mr Hatzidakis recalls the evidence: “Greece, unfortunately, is currently ranked 19th worldwide in terms of water scarcity, while 80% of the waters goes to irrigation.” It is, as he says, “two critical elements showing why the national water management plan is an absolute priority. This plan is already being processed and will have several axes: accelerating the necessary projects, such as e.g. dams. The drastic restriction of losses by water networks. The exploitation of new technologies, such as desalination. The adoption of a new model of water management at national level etc. And all this with complete respect for the Constitution, which the water correctly considers a public good. We try to deal with the issue spherical and with the seriousness required, responding to climate change that strongly affects the Mediterranean. “