Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis dismissed reports of tension with Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki, called claims about gender-related content in primary school textbooks nonsense, and declined to say when the next general election will be held, during an informal meeting with journalists in Thessaloniki on Thursday evening.
The gathering, organized by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, was held at the Electra Palace hotel as the prime minister wrapped up a day of appearances tied to the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair, known in Greece as the DEth, an annual trade exhibition that traditionally serves as the platform for major government policy announcements each September.
Economy and borrowing costs
Mitsotakis appeared relaxed and in good spirits, telling reporters he was not worried about the coming winter in relation to developments in the global economy. He said the government was not spending a single euro more than it could afford, adding that spending had been costed down to the last euro and that the government respected fiscal balance.
He pointed to Greece's low cost of borrowing as a sign that international markets were not concerned about the country's economic direction, and wondered aloud whether markets were already pricing in the result of the next election. He noted that a few years ago, few would have imagined Greece would be able to borrow more cheaply than four members of the G7.
Election timing and candidate lists
Asked whether the election would be held in March or May, Mitsotakis avoided giving a clear answer, saying it was still early and that he had not thought about it, keeping his plans for the exact timing of the vote to himself.
He also said the New Democracy party's candidate lists had not been finalized and that final decisions would be taken very close to the election, adding that the lists would close at the last moment. Asked about the possibility of reinstating the 13th salary, he said only that he had not heard anything about it.
Denies rift with Zacharaki
Mitsotakis firmly rejected suggestions of a rift with Zacharaki, asking what issue there could possibly be and pointing out that she had stood beside him earlier that day at events in Thessaloniki. He urged those spreading such narratives to focus instead on the government's record, citing the 17 schools inaugurated, and said people occupy themselves with nonsense when they have nothing better to do.
Asked by a reporter from protothema.gr about the issue of gender content in school textbooks, he was equally dismissive, saying it was nonsense and calling on people to get serious.
Remarks on Tsipras and PASOK
The prime minister also referred to a rally held the previous day in Crete by PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis to mark the anniversary of the socialist party's founding, describing turnout as dignified. Commenting mockingly on Androulakis's reference to a figure of 80 percent, he questioned who had come up with the line in the first place.
Mockery of 'global database' claim
Mitsotakis also directed a barbed comment at Nikos Nyfoudis, deputy press spokesman for Alexis Tsipras's party, who had cited a so-called Global Database to explain the source of figures on the wealth of the richest 1 percent of Greeks, wealth on which a so-called patriotic levy is being planned. Mitsotakis joked that the global database had been built by the Nephilim, a sarcastic jab suggesting the source was more myth than fact.
Lighter moments
The exchange with reporters had lighter moments too. Referring to Tsipras and the fact that it had rained and mosquitoes swarmed during his recent appearance at the Thessaloniki fair, Mitsotakis joked by asking whether they should go and spray for mosquitoes.
Besides Marinakis, also present at the meeting were Giorgos Efthimiou, Panos Amyras and Kyra Kapi, members of the communications team at the Maximos Mansion, the prime minister's office.
Visit to youth wing party
Following the meeting with journalists, Mitsotakis stopped by a party held by ONNED, New Democracy's youth wing, at the Arc venue, where he was photographed with the organization's president, Orfeas Georgiou.
