Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said on Monday that opposition parties' policy pledges announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair were "uncosted," warning that implementing them would require overtaxing citizens, with the middle class the main victim.
Speaking in a television interview with ANT1, Pierrakakis said it would be unfortunate if the opposition ever had to put its promises into practice, arguing that past experience showed such measures would need to be funded through higher taxes.
The Thessaloniki International Fair, known in Greece as DEth, is an annual trade exhibition where the prime minister and opposition party leaders traditionally set out their economic policies for the year ahead.
Androulakis pledges put at 6 billion euros
Turning to remarks made by Nikos Androulakis, leader of the PASOK-KINAL party, Pierrakakis said many of the measures he had announced were too general in nature to be costed. He said, however, that seven specific measures identified within Androulakis's pledges would cost 6 billion euros a year.
Pierrakakis said the government had proven, and would continue to prove this year, that it stood by citizens, adding that it would take whatever measures were necessary if the situation required it.
Difficult winter expected for heating oil
Asked about heating oil prices, Pierrakakis acknowledged that it would be a difficult winter. He said there was significant volatility in prices and that the government would need to wait and see how they developed before it could assess the cost to households.
Red loans and debt management firms
The finance minister was also asked about non-performing loans, referred to in Greece as "red loans," and the companies that manage them. He said the government led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had introduced the largest arrangements for private debt to date, and that authorities were on top of complaints against loan servicing companies, adding that the government would intervene if necessary.
