Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis has criticized former prime minister Alexis Tsipras over uncosted economic proposals that official estimates put at 13 billion euros annually.
Speaking during a briefing for political correspondents in Athens, Marinakis said an evaluation by the government economic team showed that the latest pledges made by Tsipras lacked financial backing and basic credibility.
Marinakis stated that the former prime minister had appeared publicly to make promises without delivering any specific calculation of their cost. He added that the political practice of promising financial benefits to voters without accounting for the expenditure was completely outdated in Greece.
Marinakis pointed out a lack of self-criticism in the remarks made by Tsipras, noting that the former leader offered no reflection on his record in office. He rejected claims that living conditions were better in 2019, arguing that voters had rejected that assertion in the elections of 2019 and 2023, as well as in ongoing public opinion polls.
Minimum Wage Comparisons
Addressing specific economic claims, Marinakis contrasted the current administration record on wages with that of the previous government. He noted that Tsipras had left the minimum wage at 650 euros per month during his tenure, while the current administration had increased it to 920 euros per month.
The economic debate comes after years of financial recovery efforts in Greece following the eurozone debt crisis. During that period, international bailout agreements imposed strict controls on government spending, pension payouts, and statutory minimum wage rates across the country.
Marinakis is the official spokesman for the ruling New Democracy party, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Tsipras served as prime minister from 2015 to 2019 as head of the left-wing Coalition of the Radical Left, known as SYRIZA, before losing power in the July 2019 general election.
Opposition Political Friction
During the press conference, Marinakis also commented on criticism directed at Tsipras by the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, known as PASOK. He described the statement issued by PASOK as a pleasant note in the political debate.
Marinakis noted that PASOK had accused Tsipras of acting on political illusions while simultaneously claiming that he had copied 80 percent of its party program. He remarked that PASOK needed to look in the mirror, stating that a party cannot accuse a rival of holding delusions while complaining that the rival copied its platform.
PASOK is Greece's primary center-left opposition party, often referred to in domestic politics as Harilaou Trikoupi after the street in central Athens where its national headquarters are located.
Governance and Coalition Prospects
Asked about potential coalition governments if the ruling party fails to secure an absolute majority, Marinakis dismissed the prospect of partnering with opposition rivals or former leaders such as Antonis Samaras. He insisted that securing a single-party majority for New Democracy remained the only realistic governing option for Greece.
Marinakis explained that the positions taken by opposition parties made power-sharing impossible, stating that he could not imagine sitting at the same table with parties that characterize government policy as submissive. He emphasized that politics is not about distributing cabinet seats and declared that New Democracy would not compromise its core principles.
Antonis Samaras served as prime minister of Greece from 2012 to 2015 and previously led New Democracy. In Greek parliamentary politics, winning a single-party majority allows the victorious party to form a government without negotiating coalition agreements with rival political factions.
