How did he comment on the absence of Kostas Karamanlis and Antonis Samaras from the event at the Pentagon
The government representative Pavlos Marinakis when asked when briefing political editors about power price hikes reported by the media, he said he was not aware of any such and that the government had demonstrated that it supports households and businesses. He presented a table with electricity prices for household consumers in the EU in the first half of 2025 and Greece is the 10th country with the cheapest electricity and in terms of purchasing power we are below the European average.
“We are the country that has given the most money to businesses and households to deal with the energy crisis”he added.
Asked to comment on Aphrodite Latinopoulou’s statement calling some teachers “garbage” and Dora Bakoyannis’ statement regarding the Minister of Shipping’s statements about the port master of Chania, Mr. Marinakis said they are unrelated. Regarding Ms. Latinopoulou, she said that it is good to avoid these characterizations and that “it is not up to an educator whether children will be taught our history”. Mr. Marinakis said that sacrifices are hidden behind national anniversaries. “I agree in part and it is the opinion of the vast majority of Greek citizens. Now who should serve or not serve in the education system is evaluated by the competent authorities, by the disciplinary bodies”, he added, pointing out that “no teacher can hide from the children the value of our anniversaries, the proud moments of our country”.
Regarding the placement of Mrs. Bakoyannis, he said that the competent minister informed how the EDE is being done. “A person under investigation speaks last and officially it is decided what happened in the end. I don’t think there is a question of arrogance but there is no punitive mood, to tarnish the offer of a leader in a region that has been tested by the migration flows of the last months”, he added.
After a related question, he stated that there is no question of transferring military material to Israel.
Mr. Marinakis, regarding the student who had a watermelon with the colors of Palestine on her sleeve, stated that there is no statement or disposition from the Ministry of Education for disciplinary action against the student.
Regarding statements by Mr. Drymiotis that “being a leftist has ended up not being Greek”, Mr. Marinakis stated that “we are all Greeks and there are no more or less patriots” and that “we don’t have the logic of those who distribute patriot meters”. And he added that “a private person said something” noting also that “the Truth Group is a private page that does not hide its ideological orientation”. And he noted that it is not possible for the opposition to demand that the government make a statement because a page thought a private statement was correct.
“Who are asking the government and ND to denounce this position? SYRIZA is asking for it and its representative is insisting that it has a president who went to Parliament and among other things accused the country’s prime minister of the death of a man without a forensic examination. They are asking us to convict a citizen. PASOK, which has called the prime minister the orchestrator of the cover-up, has spoken of hidden wagons. It’s look who’s talking. Their audacity knows no bounds,” he added.
Regarding the mobilization of military personnel while the event was taking place yesterday at the Pentagon, Pavlos Marinakis stated that “we respect the protests of the workers, the citizens” and added that “we will have increases that come from the ministry’s savings without burdening the Greek taxpayer”. He also said that the aim is to continuously increase the salaries in the Armed Forces.
Regarding the absence of former Prime Ministers Costas Karamanlis and Antonis Samaras, he stated that “I don’t think it is my job to comment on absences, but on the event and the presences”. Mr. Marinakis said that the new image of the building was impressive and even more impressive the image of the monument with the names of the people who sacrificed themselves so that we can be free today.
For the lifting of her immunity Zois Konstantopoulou and her reaction in the Parliament, the government representative stated that “her overall presence, the insults to the dead, to her fellow MPs, in one word, is a shame for the functioning of parliament, it is the definition of shame”. He added that her whole attitude is the epitome of hypocrisy. “Mrs. Konstantopoulou is the first among many politicians and some journalists who want to make a career out of a tragedy. It’s the grossest. It is the definition of shame, vulgarity and hypocrisy. It offends the functioning of parliamentarianism in the country. But in such attitudes we cannot stand even indirectly as helpers. With persons like Ms. Konstantopoulou, it is not possible for her to say these things on Monday, to say something else on Tuesday, and then co-sign a motion of no confidence with her. And some years ago we made her president of the Parliament. Let them see them and reflect on what those who from time to time got on the same page with her have done,” he added.
Regarding the mobilization of farmers and breeders, Mr. Marinakis stated that the payments have started and that they are justifiably anxious, but we will have the best possible result.
Asked about the work accidents, Mr. Marinakis stated that the news of the loss of a person, a worker, is tragic. “Our policy at the end of the day is to have full-time contracts. All government initiatives are aimed at protecting workers. Each workplace accident is a separate story that is investigated. We do not turn a blind eye to such tragic incidents,” he added.