Greek deputy minister Pavlos Marinakis confirmed that national elections will take place in spring 2027 during an interview published on Sunday.
Speaking to the newspaper Makedonia tis Kyriakis ahead of the annual Thessaloniki International Fair, the government spokesperson asked the public for patience regarding upcoming economic policy announcements by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Marinakis emphasized that the funds for all planned measures have already been secured through economic growth and measures against tax evasion rather than higher taxes.
Marinakis pledged that every commitment announced by Mitsotakis at the fair will be put into practice. He added that attempting to calculate the billions promised by political apprentice sorcerers over the years would leave citizens unable to keep count.
Political opposition and election timeline
Marinakis sharply criticized former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras over plans to present the opposition Syriza party economic program in Thessaloniki before and after the prime minister's speech. He described the move by Tsipras to precede the prime minister as an unprecedented political impropriety, warning that arrogance is a poor advisor in politics.
The Thessaloniki International Fair is an annual trade exhibition held every September in Greece's second-largest city, where prime ministers traditionally deliver major economic addresses. Alexis Tsipras served as prime minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019.
Reaffirming that the government intends to serve its full term until spring 2027, Marinakis described politics as a marathon that naturally involves unexpected events. He stated that the administration will maintain daily contact with citizens, noting that every election represents a fresh judgment by the electorate.
Wildfire response and civil protection measures
Addressing the summer wildfire season, Marinakis acknowledged that severe and prolonged winds tested the resilience of the state mechanism. He noted that strong winds prevented aerial firefighting units from flying on certain days, recording 18 consecutive days of high winds across the country.
While acknowledging that the climate crisis explains operational difficulties, Marinakis stressed that it provides no excuse for inaction. He highlighted government reforms, including establishing an autonomous Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection and expanding firefighting personnel to more than 18,000, up from approximately 13,300.
State response efforts also include 21 Special Units of Forestry Operations employing around 1,600 forest commandos. The government has directed 660 million euros into the Antinero forest prevention scheme and over 2 billion euros into the AEGIS civil protection infrastructure program.
Wildfire causes and opposition debate
Marinakis stated that human activity caused the majority of blazes, whether through intent or negligence, with arrests approaching 300 this year. Rejecting criticism from opposition parties regarding burned land, he cited figures from the European Union Copernicus Earth observation service showing over 5.7 million stremmata burned across the EU up to August 12, compared to roughly 305,000 stremmata in Greece.
In response to criticism from Tsipras, Marinakis urged the opposition leader to read the prosecutor's statement in the trial over the 2018 Mati wildfire tragedy. The prosecutor described a shattered state mechanism during that disaster and noted that many lives could have been saved if the 112 emergency notification system had been operational.
Power grid undergrounding and Halkidiki recovery
Regarding electrical infrastructure, Marinakis reported that the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator, known as DEDDHE, has installed more than 4,500 kilometers of underground power lines over the past three years. The annual pace of placing lines underground has increased more than eightfold compared to 2019 levels.
Marinakis noted that placing the entire 250,000-kilometer electrical grid underground would take several decades and require an estimated investment of 35 billion euros. Turning to the recent wildfire in Kassandra, Halkidiki, he said state inspection teams acted immediately to assess damage and process compensation for affected residents, while calling for sustainable tourism rules to prevent overbuilding.
Thessaloniki urban development and political outlook
Marinakis highlighted positive momentum in Thessaloniki infrastructure, pointing out that the Thessaloniki Metro is operational and the extension to Kalamaria will open within days. Following municipal council approval, international bidding is underway for a major urban renewal project featuring a 120-stremma Metropolitan Park and exhibition center at the fairgrounds.
Looking ahead to political developments following recent European Parliament elections and the growth of right-wing parties, Marinakis said every vote must be respected. He added that the government aims to earn public trust daily through tangible results rather than empty promises or pseudo-patriotic rhetoric.
Commenting on speculation regarding a potential new political party led by former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Marinakis declined to predict the electoral impact of an unannounced party, emphasizing that voters render the final decision at the ballot box.
