“Banks must finance the real economy, small and medium-sized enterprises, but, above all, they must hold or immediately reduce lending rates to the extent that they maintain fixed deposit rates,” the government stressed. Alexis Tsipras in their statements after the meeting with the governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Sturnaras.

In particular, the President of SYRIZA-P.S. stated that “we had the opportunity today to receive information from the governor of the Bank of Greece and his colleagues on the course of the Greek economy, fiscal and macroeconomic forecasts, and to exchange thoughts on opportunities, but also on challenges.” facing the Greek economy”.

Al. Tsipras said he expressed to the Central Bank Governor “our concerns about the significant increase in private debt over the past 3.5 years, by about 40 billion euros, as well as the increase in non-performing loans, which are now approaching 110 billion euros. billion euros.

He noted that “this, combined with the inflationary crisis as well as rising lending rates, is creating a new generation of bad loans as thousands of borrowers who used to service their loans are now unable to service them.”

“Well,” he added, “we expressed concern that the number of non-performing loans will increase even more.”

He emphasized that “of course, this, combined with the new bankruptcy law passed by the N.D. government, which removes the protection of the first place of residence, no longer obliges lenders to negotiate with borrowers, creates a huge social problem.”

He added that “when a tsunami of auctions is inevitable in the next period, social instability will also develop into economic instability.”

Also, Mr. Tsipras expressed his conviction that “in these conditions, the excessive profitability shown by banks, although this phenomenon may not have a sustainable prospect, however, as long as they represent it, combined with the fact that they do not play a role, financing economy, they create unbearable conditions.”

In the same context, he said, “when the rate of return on equity for Greek banks is three times that of German banks, and above all, when deposit rates remain fixed and lending rates rise by a margin that now exceeds 5% when European m.o. is 2%, we are facing a condition that cannot be tolerated.”

He noted that “banks should finance the real economy, small and medium-sized enterprises, but above all, they should hold or immediately reduce lending rates to the extent that they maintain fixed deposit rates.”

“Of course,” he stressed, “I expressed my opinion that it is premature to talk about dividends to bank shareholders when we have experienced so many adventures and when banks today are alive thanks to deferred tax and constant recapitalizations from Greek taxpayers’ money.”

Finally, he stressed that “a progressive government thus has a plan for the protection of society, the first home, to give the prospect of sustainable mechanisms that will ensure the protection of society, as well as the prospect of sustainable development for both the banking system and the state.” the economy itself.

And at the same time, he continued, “the plan for consolidation, the continuation of the efforts for sustainable consolidation of banks without this complex profitability for the Greek society, which cannot be based on any real forecast.”

When asked whether there is a coincidence of views with G. Sturnaras, he replied that “there is an exchange of views, a fruitful exchange of views and this is the first important step.”

RES – OIE