Sun. Mitsotakis: First priority is to address the issue of accuracy

«May I wish you, first of all, Madam President, a happy Lent. As we have completed an intense month of important parliamentary interventions and the implementation of emblematic reforms to which our government had already committed itself during the pre-election period, our attention turns back to the issues of everyday life,» Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his dialogue with Katerina Sakellaropoulou. Initially, the Prime Minister spoke about the issue of accuracy: «We have discussed many times the problem of accuracy, which is the top political priority of our government and I believe that the interventions we have made show some initial results, without, in any case, being able to say that we are satisfied and that we are stopping our efforts.The interventions made by the Ministry of Development have led to noticeable reductions in a number of consumer products. I include among them infant milk, where reductions are now in excess of 15%. And, of course, I want to reiterate that the controls for the proper functioning of the market continue unabated and that the message the government is sending out is clear: we will not accept speculation on an issue that currently concerns the vast majority of Greek households. That is why the fines that have been imposed, as you have seen, are significant and we will continue to monitor the market rigorously so that we can be sure that all companies, no matter how big they are, will apply the law as it has been passed.’.

He then referred to the government's interventions for the new NHS: «From there, we are also continuing our important interventions in the health sector, using European resources. I am very regularly, as you may have seen, in hospitals and health centres around the country, which are benefiting from the resources of the Recovery Fund. We are making very important interventions in our hospital buildings, in their equipment, so that step by step we can say that we are building this new NHS that all Greeks are looking forward to. I would like to stress that this is also an ongoing and continuous effort, but I would like to highlight the very large contribution, once again, of the Recovery Fund and of European funds in general to this important effort to modernise the National Health System. And I say this, of course, taking into account the fact that in a short time we will have European elections and it is very important to be able to highlight the positive side of Europe against the voices of populism and sterile Euroscepticism and how much our country has benefited, especially from the resources of the Recovery Fund, as we receive, per capita, the highest percentage of resources than any other European country.

Mitsotakis also referred to security issues and especially the situation in universities: «I would like to focus on security issues and especially the image of our universities. As you have seen, there have been police operations both in Athens and Thessaloniki. I want to reiterate once again that illegal acts will not be accepted and the government and the Greek Police will be at the forefront of returning the universities to those who really belong to them, to the students, to the professors, so that the universities remain centres of knowledge and that some people inside or outside the university who seek to turn them into a place of violence and a place of sterile conflicts cannot find refuge there - and this policy will continue. However, we also need the cooperation, and I will say this again, of the rectorate authorities, which must also rise to the occasion and assume their responsibilities. I will say it as I feel it, we cannot have students who commit such illegal acts repeatedly and universities that do not take the obvious action, which is to expel them from the university. In no other country in the world would there be the tolerance which is sometimes shown in our country for such phenomena.’.

The Prime Minister also referred to the issues of Thessaly and farmers: «Finally, I would like to dwell a little on the issues concerning Thessaly. Once again I had a detailed discussion both with the farmers of the region and with the representatives of the institutional bodies of the primary sector. It demonstrates once again the need to look strategically at Thessaly, with important infrastructure projects that will shield the Region of Thessaly from flooding and allow us to better manage water resources, which unfortunately have been declining in recent years. Despite the enormous damage caused by Daniel, the water resources of Thessaly are unfortunately diminishing. We are standing close to our farmers and we are meeting their demands, which we consider to be just. The provision has already been adopted which enables them to lock in low electricity prices for a decade. We are discussing with them the permanent way of refunding the special consumption tax, so that this intervention is made on the fairest possible terms and that professional farmers benefit first and foremost. At a time when the issues of the primary sector monopolize the European debate, we will continue to fight for support for the Greek primary sector, recognising on the one hand that the green transition must be made, but on the other hand expressing clear reservations about the speed with which it may have been launched to date, because it is not possible to impose on our farmers and livestock farmers unbearable obligations that often reduce their income and ultimately make the Greek economy more vulnerable in the short term.

HRH the President: one of the great stakes of democracy is the universal enjoyment of rights, but by all

Taking the floor, the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou said: «Mr. President, the issue of public health is very important, it concerns social cohesion. All our fellow citizens must have equal access to public health, we cannot have first and second class citizens in health matters. Particularly as far as society as a whole is concerned, the interventions that are made must be in the right direction, so that public health, which is a very important commodity, is always strengthened. On the issue of punctuality, I am also following the movements, and we have discussed this before, as long as the control and sanction mechanisms are in operation, they lead to forced compliance, at least, if it is not voluntary with legality, as it should be. But they are also very important for social cohesion, for households and their well-being. One of the great stakes of democracy is the universal enjoyment of rights, but by all. And indeed there must be many weighing of the extent to which the enjoyment of rights by a portion of our fellow citizens results in the violation of rights for the rest. And there I think that is where I think the difficult balancing act is that all the relevant bodies have to do and the state ultimately has to apply the law. In Slovakia, which I visited recently, we also discussed the issue of the European elections. We all have a concern and hope for the best, in terms of the outcome, in the sense that the forces that help society as a whole, the democratic forces, will prevail. Many things are and will be affected by these elections, I see, for example, that agricultural policy is affecting Ukrainian policy. Conflicts arise on many other issues, for which these European elections will be crucial.».

N.Armenis