What we are interested in is reducing the cost and we push the market with great intensity to drop its weighted average profit. These are times of responsibility for everyone, so that households can meet their obligations”, emphasized today (6.12.2024) the Minister of Development Takis Theodorikakosspeaking to SKAI.
Takis Theodorikakos emphasized that although prices have increased in the last four years by 25% – 30%, at the same time the minimum wage has increased by 28% in the last three years, as well as the average wage. He even characterized the high rents as the No. 1 problem for the high cost of living, which is why new interventions are needed from the government to solve the problem and for the banks to contribute from their side to help the citizens.
“I think the banking system has to pick up a number of citizens’ costs,” he said.
Referring to the new production model, the Minister of Development emphasized “we are advancing the productive reconstruction of the economy, with an increase in the footprint of the industry, 600 million will be given. euros in the next two years through the development law, with priority to the border regions and Thessaly. Both for security reasons of our country, but also for the young children to stay in the region and to put an end to the flow towards the basin and the big cities of Greece”.
“The New Year’s basket (Santa’s Basket), which will also have toys for the children, will start a week after the Christmas Basket. We want products of good quality, at good prices, as accessible as possible, especially for those who find it difficult to take them for a walk”,
Mr. Theodorikakos referred to the sixfold increase in the maximum fines for those who violate the law and emphasized that all fines are paid normally, without exceptions. “We don’t look at names, we do our job correctly and responsibly,” he continued.
When asked about the VAT and why it is not reduced to basic items as requested by the opposition, he answered: “With the policy we have followed, we have food inflation in November of 0.8%, when Germany has 3% and the European average is at 2.9%. In supermarkets alone, we have negative inflation in November of 0.8%, so the measures are working. If we reduce the VAT, the State loses revenue and we do not have the leeway as a country as the competent Ministry of Finance claims, while usually the company wins the VAT reduction and not the consumer”.
The Minister of Development recalled the two years when the global market was closed due to Covid19, but also the two ongoing wars in our neighborhood. “Everyone thinks we live in a normal time, but it’s not like that at all. Big countries like Germany and France are locked politically, while we also have the big political change in the USA which also affects the economic relations between Europe and the United States. We are doing well as a country because the government is struggling every day to reduce social inequalities. We are fighting for society and we will win it.”
Finally, Mr. Theodorikakos said that the government’s policy is patriotic, serious and there is no organized alternative proposal from the opposition and that “a productive Greece is our vision for the country in the coming years”. He even added that the political landscape in Greece is absolutely clear, that the statement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that he will normally be a candidate at the end of the four-year term, stops any kind of scenario for the future and underlined that the ND parliamentary group is absolutely united.