“Greece counts today both in Europe and in the world as a whole” – Visit to Elefsina
“We know very well that the problem facing Greek men and women today is the problem of punctuality. We have a strong feeling that the cost of living has increased significantly – not only in our country, everywhere in the world – in recent years. And I feel that our first obligation is to bend over this problem and to support in every way the disposable income of Greek men and women” stressed the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at a gathering of citizens in Eleusis.
He pointed out that the bill that was passed a few days ago guarantees that from the beginning of January Greek citizens will see increases in their real wages, through the reduction of direct taxation.
“Especially for young people we have done something that is extremely important: up to the age of 25, any young person in Greece with an income of up to 20,000 euros will not pay income tax. Zero income tax, for all young people. The children of technical education who enter the labor market early, our self-employed young people, will know that they have a state which stands by them and which tries to help them in their first steps. The same applies to our care for children between the ages of 25 and 30. There the tax rate is reduced from 22% to 9%,” he said.
In addition, the prime minister emphasized that the better the economy goes, the more the government will be able to return the growth dividend back to the citizens. “We will do it in such a way, however, that we do not risk the fiscal stability of the country” he noted.
“Today Greece is, in many ways, an example to be imitated in Europe. Remember where we were ten years ago. I don’t need to remind you, I think you know it very well. The country’s international credibility has been enhanced. Greece counts today both in Europe and in the world as a whole. And this is due to a very hard work that we have done as a government, which I assure you we will continue and finally we will put to the judgment of the Greek people, in 2027, our overall project” added Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Immediately after, the Prime Minister visited the market of Elefsina where he had the opportunity to discuss with citizens and shopkeepers.
Then, accompanied by the Minister of Culture Lina Mendonis, Kyriakos Mitsotakis was guided by the Deputy Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Western Attica, Popi Floros, to the archaeological site of Elefsina, where one of the most important cult centers of antiquity was located, to the archaeological museum, one of the oldest in Greece, whose permanent exhibition was redesigned and modernized based on the new museological concepts, in 2023, in the context of the cultural capital, and the holy church of the Entry of the Virgin “Panagia Mesosporitissa”.
The prime minister pointed out that the goal is for Elefsina to be further promoted as a cultural destination for every visitor interested in ancient Greece, while he emphasized that the projects are financed by European funds.
The entire greeting of Prime Minister and president of the New Democracy Kyriakos Mitsotakis to a gathering of citizens in Elefsina is as follows:
“My mayor, friends, it is with great joy that I am once again with you today in Elefsina. Thank you for this extremely warm welcome.
I always have the best memories of all the gatherings we have done in Elefsina. You have always been at the forefront of all the great electoral successes of our faction and you will be at the forefront again in the next battle that we will fight, which we will again win.
I am returning from Pachi Megaron, where I had the opportunity to attend the reception of three brand new aircraft of the fire brigade, which will do aerial surveillance of fires. The best proof that this government uses European resources to shield Greece’s position, its resilience and strengthen it at every opportunity.
And on the occasion of this remark, I want to repeat how important were the developments that we saw in the last week, last weekend, in Zappeio, where a lot of American officials were in our country and very important agreements were signed. The geopolitical position of Greece is constantly being upgraded, Greece is constantly getting stronger, it is turning into a country that is at the center of energy developments
I want to tell you, my dear Mayor, that these developments do not leave the area of Elefsina indifferent either. Every time I am here I remember the state in which we took over the shipyards of Elefsina, on the verge of bankruptcy. We saved this business, we ensured the workers that they will have good work, with good wages.
And we are the ones who, looking ahead, can think of other investments, including the possible transfer of the port of Elefsina to another area, near the shipyards, in order to free up the port area and give it back to the Municipality.
I also want to inform you that we are on a very good path towards the tendering of a project which was a constant, timeless request of the residents not only of Elefsina, but of the Thriasian Field as a whole. I am referring to the triple knot of Scaramga. The funds have been secured, the project will be tendered before the end of the year and I estimate that we will have a contractor to start construction on this major project before the end of 2026. We said it and we are doing it.
As we are also implementing the suburban railway, a very important project overall for Western Athens. As we put into practice the upgrading of the archaeological site, the promotion of Elefsina as a place of lasting cultural heritage, building on the experience of the Cultural Capital. A point of reference for visitors to the basin.
We cooperate with the Local Government, working continuously and systematically in order to lean on the local peculiarities of every corner of Greece and to continuously make your own lives better.
I want to remind you that a few days ago we passed a very important bill. This bill concerns the conversion into law of the important announcements I made at the Thessaloniki International Fair a few months ago. And I want to remind you why this bill and why the interventions are so important for every Greek woman and every Greek man.
We know very well that the problem facing Greek men and women today is the problem of accuracy. We have a strong feeling that the cost of living has increased significantly – not only in our country, everywhere in the world – in recent years. And I feel that our first obligation is to bend over this problem and to support in every way the disposable income of Greek men and women.
This is exactly what the bill that we passed a few days ago does and which guarantees that from the beginning of January Greek citizens will see increases in their real wages, through the reduction of direct taxation.
Especially for young people we have done something that is extremely important: up to the age of 25, any young person in Greece with an income of up to 20,000 euros will not pay income tax. Zero income tax, for all young people.
The children of technical education who enter the labor market early, our self-employed young people, will know that they have a state which stands by them and which tries to help them in their first steps.
The same applies to our care for children between the ages of 25 and 30. There the tax rate is reduced from 22% to 9%.
And of course, our practical support for the Greek family. The more children you have, the less tax you will pay. Because we know what it means today to raise two and three and four children. And we feel an obligation to return the dividend of development to those of our fellow citizens who are most tested by accuracy.
Add to these the other interventions we are already launching. At the end of November, whoever is on the lease will get a full month’s rent back. And this is a permanent political decision, it will apply every year, to support our fellow citizens who are currently in rent, faced with ever-increasing rents.
250 euros for all low-income pensioners. You tell me, is it a lot? They are what we can give right now, friends, to support low-income pensioners to get by a little easier during the holidays.
And why am I saying this? I say this because you will only hear measured statements from this government. It is very easy today to be in the opposition and to bait rabbits with petrachelis. To vote, for example, for all the measures that the government initiates, but to come and say that “I will give three, four and five times more”.
We are not going to do that, friends. We won two electoral contests by building relationships of trust with the citizens. And these relationships of trust are built first and foremost by honoring the truth agreement that I first spoke to you about in 2016. A truth agreement that I have not broken.
The better the economy does, the better we will be able to return a growth dividend back to the citizens. We will do it in such a way, however, that we do not risk the fiscal stability of the country in any way.
Today, Greece is, in many ways, an example to follow in Europe. Remember where we were ten years ago. I don’t need to remind you, I think you know it very well.
The country’s international credibility has been enhanced. Greece counts today both in Europe and in the world as a whole. And this is due to a very hard work that we have done as a government, which I assure you we will continue and finally we will put our overall project to the judgment of the Greek people, in 2027.
We will ask citizens to remember what we told them we would do in 2023 and compare it with the actual outcome of our policy. And I am sure that when that moment comes, citizens will realize that the only reliable political force of stability and prosperity in our country remains our great party, New Democracy.
And I want to close by reminding you that we have internal party elections coming up soon. The re-registration deadline is tomorrow night. We already have very high participation numbers through our membership process, which we rely on to be able to continually certify that we are one of the largest, if not the largest, centre-right party in Europe.
Those of you who haven’t registered, or haven’t re-registered, please do so by tomorrow night to participate in the internal party elections.
Internal party democracy gives us strength. I always say it: I am prime minister because I am the president of New Democracy and I rely on your love, with your support.
Be well. Good strength, all the best. Thank you very much”.