Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis declared in Thessaloniki that Greece will take all necessary measures to complete an electricity interconnection with Cyprus despite Turkish opposition.
Speaking during a press briefing for political correspondents, Marinakis stated that international law clearly governs the laying of subsea cables. He added that Greece, Cyprus, and France share a firm political determination to push the energy project forward in accordance with established international regulations.
The planned subsea power cable, known as the Great Sea Interconnector, aims to link the electrical grids of mainland Europe and Cyprus, ending the island nation's energy isolation as an EU member state in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Thessaloniki Metro expansion
Addressing public transit developments in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, Marinakis contrasted current infrastructure progress with past administration policies. He remarked that after decades of unfulfilled promises and mock inaugurations featuring painted tarpaulins less than ten years ago, the country has entered an era defined by accountability, honesty, and concrete deliverables.
The spokesperson highlighted the inauguration of the Thessaloniki Metro extension, which connects Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos, the city's main railway station, to Martiou. On the newly delivered section, train frequencies are initially set at three-minute intervals, with plans to increase service density as additional train sets enter operation.
To optimize urban mobility, local bus routes are being restructured to work in tandem with the subway network. Government officials are also planning a phased expansion of metro operating hours, aiming for round-the-clock 24-hour service on Friday and Saturday nights alongside night bus routes.
Marinakis noted that future transit plans include extending the metro toward the western suburbs of Thessaloniki, combined with the development of the Western Thessaloniki Suburban Railway. He added that the initiatives build on a seven-year effort to modernize public transportation across the metropolitan area, anchored by a comprehensive fleet renewal for city buses.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will attend the metro extension inauguration at 09:30 on Thursday, 27 August. Following the ceremony, the prime minister will meet with regional lawmakers, local government officials, and representatives from scientific and commercial bodies before delivering an address at 12:00 on national strategy for Northern Greece.
Defense agreements and frigate acquisitions
Turning to national defense, Marinakis announced that Greece will sign a bilateral agreement with Italy on 8 September to acquire two FREMM multi-mission frigates. He emphasized that the acquisition will further enhance Greece's military capabilities, which have expanded in both naval firepower and diplomatic influence over the past seven years.
The Italian-designed FREMM warships will join the Hellenic Navy alongside previously ordered French Belharra frigates. Marinakis stated that these advanced strike vessels will safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights across both the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Widowhood pensions and tax reforms
On social policy, the government spokesperson confirmed the execution of legislative measures announced by the prime minister on 3 July to permanently repeal widowhood pension cuts originally enacted under the Katrougalos pension law. Payouts under the restored system began on Wednesday, 26 August, and will be completed by Friday, 28 August.
Under the revised scheme, 8,500 beneficiaries will receive substantial monthly increases restoring their payments to pre-reduction levels. Furthermore, approximately 75,000 pensioners will be exempt from returning any retroactive funds, while 122,000 retirees eligible for two national pensions will maintain both payments without reduction.
Marinakis also defended recent fiscal policies against opposition criticism regarding tax presumptions and imputed income standards for self-employed workers. He argued that responsible opposition requires assessing the entire tax framework rather than cherry-picking individual measures, noting that income tax rates for freelancers have dropped from 29 percent to a maximum of 20 percent.
He added that advance tax payments were reduced from 100 percent to 50 percent, the annual trade tax was eliminated, and property tax rates under the ENFIA scheme were lowered. Enforcement initiatives linked to presumption rules successfully brought in 2 billion euros in additional state revenue from previously undeclared shadow economy funds, and Marinakis noted that as broader tax compliance measures take effect, presumption rules will become redundant.
Economic growth and public debt repayment
Addressing the economic package to be unveiled at the upcoming Thessaloniki International Fair, Marinakis cited statements from Education Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis indicating that total relief measures will exceed 1 billion euros. He said the prime minister's fair address will outline long-term fiscal policy extending beyond 2027, focusing on relief for self-employed professionals, the middle class, and families.
The spokesperson dismissed opposition assertions regarding the early repayment of Greece's sovereign debt, describing them as false. He clarified that early debt retirement clears future financial liabilities and cannot legally be redirected to immediate welfare spending under European fiscal expenditure ceilings.
Marinakis highlighted that early debt repayments save the state 370 million euros annually while enhancing national financial credibility abroad. He pointed out that investment in Greece has grown by 95 percent compared to a 5 percent average across Europe, alongside the creation of 600,000 new jobs, as the government moves away from borrowing against future generations.
Domestic violence measures and political clash
Regarding public safety and domestic violence, Marinakis reported that the Greek Police handled nearly 29,000 domestic abuse cases in 2025 and approximately 13,000 incidents during the current year. He highlighted state actions introduced since 2019, including the nationwide deployment of an emergency panic button mobile application and the operation of 20 dedicated shelters for abused women.
Marinakis launched a sharp critique against former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and opposition lawmakers regarding criminal justice reform. He claimed that under Tsipras's administration, statutory penalties for homicide were reduced from mandatory life imprisonment to life or up to 15 years, while maximum sentences for gang rape were lowered from 20 years to 15 years, asking whether members of the police force and opposition agree with those legislative changes.
Market prices and disaster housing relief
On living costs, Marinakis reported progress on anti-inflation measures, stating that by 20 August, 750 branded products and 100 private-label items had joined a price reduction initiative, yielding an average price drop of 7 percent across 62 suppliers and 10 major supermarket chains.
Lastly, Marinakis announced that the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection will submit a bill to Parliament on Thursday, 27 August, establishing a revised framework for disaster housing assistance. The legislation covers emergency housing aid, rental subsidies, cohabitation allowances, lump-sum financial assistance, and prefabricated modular housing units for citizens affected by natural disasters.
Key provisions of the housing bill include expanding eligibility criteria, fully digitizing permit procedures through the e-Adeies platform, introducing stricter management for landslide hazards, deploying a new digital portal for immediate financial aid, and establishing an Autonomous Audit Department within the General Directorate of State Relief and Coordination.
