Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, reiterating the government’s decision to serve out its four-year term and lead the country to elections in 2027, while rejecting speculation about an early election.
Speaking on ONE’s ONE Channel, Mr. Marinakis referred to the prime minister’s remarks on the matter during his tour of Northern Euboea, emphasizing that the exact date will be «a Sunday in 2027».
According to the government spokesperson, calling for early elections when polls are favorable to a government is a practice that has been employed by the political system for many years, but it does not align with the public’s current expectations. The government, he said, has chosen to make the most of every day until the end of its four-year term to implement its program.
In this context, she referred to the improvements made to health centers and hospitals, the renovations of school buildings through the «Marietta Giannakou» program, the operation of private universities, provided they are approved by the ETHAAE, as well as the extension of the Thessaloniki Metro toward Kalamaria.
«Every day that brings us closer to the end of our four-year term is another day for us to prove that we have been true to our word,» was the key message from the government spokesperson, who acknowledged that suggestions for early elections have been made outside the Maximos Mansion. The response, according to him, remains that Kyriakos Mitsotakis has chosen to honor his commitment to hold elections in 2027.
Accuracy, Income, and Housing
On the economic front, Mr. Marinakis acknowledged that high prices are the most significant problem for the middle class and lower-income earners, both in terms of product prices and rent.
He rejected, however, the notion that a government can immediately eliminate inflation or reduce prices across the board through administrative decisions. Government policy, as he described it, is based on increasing incomes at a faster rate than the rise in prices.
«Anyone who promises that growth will continue while prices begin to fall is a political fraud,» he said, linking the fight against high prices to wage increases, tax cuts, and the creation of more jobs.
Regarding demographics and the low birth rate, he noted that these are complex issues with social—and not exclusively economic—causes. He spoke of changes in the philosophy of the Western world and the devaluation of the concept of family, motherhood, and the role of grandmothers in raising children.
These issues, as he had previously announced, will be high on the government’s agenda in the run-up to the elections.
«Let the pie grow»
Regarding housing and economic policy, the government spokesperson contrasted two different approaches. On the one hand, he highlighted a policy of providing benefits through borrowing and increasing government spending; on the other, he emphasized a strategy for economic growth, attracting investment, and increasing public revenue without raising tax rates.
«The only way to tackle these problems is to find money and make the pie bigger,» he said.
He also cited the reduction of public debt as a percentage of GDP, the achievement of surpluses, and the increase in government revenue despite the reduction—as he put it— 83 direct and indirect taxes.
Responding to criticism that the rise in tax revenue implies higher taxes, he attributed the change to economic growth, foreign investment, job creation, and the reduction of tax evasion.
The increase in investment, according to him, creates new or better-paying jobs and broadens the tax base, allowing the government to collect more revenue without raising tax rates.
At the same time, he left room for new tax measures in favor of the middle class and small and medium-sized enterprises, in light of the decisions to be made regarding the next Thessaloniki International Fair.
Reduction in non-wage costs
Mr. Marinakis also described non-wage labor costs for businesses as «high,» despite the reductions that have already been implemented.
Among the options that could be considered—without announcing any specific measures—he included a further reduction in the corporate tax rate, which has fallen from 28% to 22%, as well as a further reduction in the advance tax payment, which has been lowered from 100% to 80%.
He clarified that the final decisions will be made by the prime minister, following recommendations from the economic team.
In contrast to government policy, he highlighted Alexis Tsipras’s proposals to tax the wealthiest 1%, arguing that higher taxes limit investment, job creation, and the ability to pay higher wages.
Complaints Regarding Temporary Appointments and Direct Awards
He also addressed at length the opposition’s complaints regarding the number of seconded civil servants and direct contract awards.
Regarding temporary employees, he stated that their number in the General Government is slightly lower than in 2019. The overall increase recorded, as he explained, pertains to local government staff, following relevant requests from mayors regardless of their party affiliation.
With regard to direct awards, he argued that the opposition is focusing on the number of contracts rather than the amount of the related expenditures. The cost of direct awards, according to the data he cited, accounts for approximately 4% of all General Government projects and contracts.
At the same time, he called on the opposition parties to present specific cases they consider problematic so that they can be reviewed by the courts, rather than treating all direct awards as suspicious across the board.
OPEKEPE and the Waiver of Immunity
Responding to accusations of a «government of defendants» in the OPEKEPE case, the government spokesperson clarified that the lifting of parliamentary immunity does not equate to criminal prosecution or indictment.
The lifting of immunity, he said, is a prerequisite for the judiciary to summon a member of parliament to provide explanations and then decide whether to bring charges.
He referred to the presumption of innocence and noted that the case against two individuals has already been dismissed, while court rulings on the remaining cases are expected in the near future.
The goal is to form a government on its own
Regarding the upcoming elections, Mr. Marinakis reiterated that New Democracy’s goal is to win an outright majority, while rejecting, however, the «outright majority or chaos» dilemma.
According to the government’s position, self-reliance is linked to the need to implement a unified economic and political strategy, which includes reducing debt, raising wages, increasing government revenue, and avoiding unfunded promises.
Regarding the possibility of cooperation with PASOK, he recalled the party’s stance in 2015, when, together with New Democracy, it supported the country’s European course. He argued, however, that today’s PASOK has shifted toward a policy of empty promises and accusatory rhetoric, while Nikos Androulakis himself has rejected the idea of a coalition government.
In any case, if no party secures a majority on its own, the country will have to form a government based on the will of the people. «Prime ministers are elected by the citizens. They aren’t chosen during meetings in offices or cafes around Kolonaki,» he said.
The Scenarios for Antonis Samaras
He described the discussion regarding the possibility of Antonis Samaras forming a party and a post-election alliance with New Democracy as premature and speculative.
The government spokesperson argued that any potential cooperation could not be limited to an agreement on the allocation of positions. Particularly on foreign policy issues, he made agreement on the strategy to be followed a prerequisite, rejecting characterizations of a «compromise policy.».
«The shape of the future is not the result of a deal,» he said, adding that Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s policies are an integral part of the discussion regarding any government coalition.
The Confrontation with Alexis Tsipras
The tone was particularly harsh toward Alexis Tsipras, following the former prime minister’s visit to Mytilene.
Mr. Marinakis compared the number of migrants and refugees staying in the facilities on Lesbos in 2019 with current figures, attributing the decrease to the change in migration policy.
At the same time, he reiterated the allegations made by former Minister of Justice Stavros Kontonis regarding the operation of a «de facto Ministry of Justice» at the Maximos Mansion during the SYRIZA government, as well as criticism of the changes to the Penal Code shortly before the 2019 elections.
Regarding Adonis Georgiadis’s statement that Alexis Tsipras may have been bribed, the government spokesperson did not directly endorse the accusation, but argued that, in the face of such a serious public allegation, he would expect a legal response from the former prime minister.
«When you’re accused of something so serious, you don’t send flowers. You take the matter to the courts,» he said, adding that «the last prime minister of the post-dictatorship era who can point a finger at others on moral grounds is Alexis Tsipras.».
Marfin and the tightening of regulations
Regarding developments in the Marfin case, Mr. Marinakis declined to comment on the guilt or innocence of the defendants, referring instead to the court’s decisions.
He did, however, describe it as a significant development that the case is back in the spotlight after many years, with court rulings indicating that there is evidence that needs to be examined.
Speaking more broadly about crime and squatting, he argued that for decades, illegal acts had been presented as activism or revolutionary action. He cited the abolition of university asylum, the evictions of squatters, and the conversion of occupied spaces into libraries and legal cafeterias.
She spoke in favor of further tightening the legal framework for offenses related to squatting, arson, and explosive devices, provided that the changes are legally sound and do not constitute piecemeal amendments to the Penal Code.
In the same context, he expressed support for proposals that limit the possibility of suspending or commuting sentences for specific offenses, as well as to the review of provisions regarding conditional release in cases involving multiple life sentences.
«This isn’t a right-wing agenda. It’s common sense,» he said, linking the tougher approach to protecting citizens and their families from attacks involving explosive devices.
