Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has outlined his government's strategic plan for the next four years, focusing on key areas such as wage and pension increases, tax reductions, and accelerated repayment of bailout debts.
Having secured a strong mandate in the June 25 election, where his New Democracy party won 158 out of 300 parliamentary seats, Mitsotakis emphasized the need to address past shortcomings and committed to diligent work during his new term.
During his parliamentary address, Mitsotakis stressed the urgency of implementing swift reforms, signaling his party's mandate to drive economic growth and achieve significant milestones for Greece. He expressed optimism, stating, "I firmly believe that the best days are ahead of us." In a tweet following the session, Mitsotakis reiterated the citizens' expectation of bold steps towards a future Greece by 2030, emphasizing vision, planning, and hard work.
The prime minister's commitments include fostering robust economic growth, aiming to regain an investment-grade credit rating after 13 years, and repaying bilateral loans from the initial bailout agreement with the eurozone ahead of schedule. Additionally, he pledged an annual one-time bonus for pensioners, extended measures to protect households from rising living costs, and announced a 1,000 euro increase in the tax-exemption threshold for households with children starting next year.
Mitsotakis also addressed the issue of tax evasion, vowing to intensify efforts to combat it. He highlighted progress made through electronic transactions but acknowledged that further action is required. Warning those engaged in tax evasion, he declared that the government possesses the determination and legitimacy to track down evaders and ensure their compliance with tax obligations.
Education was another key area of focus, with Mitsotakis unveiling a comprehensive initiative targeting the technology sector. This initiative includes a training and certification program aimed at benefiting 100,000 individuals. He highlighted the potential of Article 28 of the Constitution's interstate agreements, which allows for the recognition of private universities within Greece by the Supreme Council of Education. Mitsotakis expressed intentions to revise Article 16 of the Constitution accordingly.
Furthermore, the prime minister announced plans for school infrastructure upgrades to commence by September, with the goal of reaching 180 experimental schools in Greece by 2027.
