The feud between New Democracy and SYRIZA regarding the cost of the SYRIZA election program.

Kumunduru accused the government of “lies and propaganda” about the €83 billion cost of the SYRIZA program.

Last week, government spokesman Akis Skertzos commented that the SYRIZA program “leads with mathematical precision to bankruptcy and memos.” According to a government representative, the State Accounting Office estimated the program at 83 billion euros.

Deputy Minister of Finance Thodoros Skilakakis responded to Komundur, emphasizing that the calculation is based on state budget data collected by various departments of the General Accounting Department of the state.

Earlier, SYRIZA noted: “After all, lies and propaganda have short legs. The State General Accounting Office refutes Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Schertzos’ claims of an estimated $83 billion cost for the SYRIZA program. We would recommend Mr. Mitsotakis stop lying and tackle the next amendment to his own program, which is just two years old in a matter of weeks before the election, she became a ‘rave zeylon’.”

Skylakakis: Huge discrepancies in amounts submitted by SYRIZA and budget figures

“There is a huge gap between the quantification announced by SYRIZA (5.5 billion euros per year) and the quantification obtained on the basis of budget figures (21 billion euros per year, of which approximately 12 billion euros are due to budgetary measures and an increase of 9 billion euros). health and education spending). It is significant that only the following 7 measures: reduction of VAT on food, reduction of social security tax, 10% salary increase in the state with price indexation, tax-free 10,000 euros, return of retroactive payments in 3 stages, restoration of 13th pension , an increase in pension without taking into account the personal difference, they amount to more than 8 billion euros per year.

Statement by Deputy Finance Minister Theodoros Skilakakis in Detail

“Regarding the cost of the SYRIZA program, I would like to note the following:
(a) The calculation of the cost is based on the state budget data collected by various departments of the General State Accounting Office and compiled and presented in a single table by the General Secretariat for Fiscal Policy of the General State Accounting Office.

(b) The quantification is easy to verify as it is mainly based on the 2023 Budget Tables which are publicly available.
(c) For how many years the General Secretariat for Fiscal Policy, using data provided by the employees of the General State Accounting Office, successfully calculates all implemented fiscal measures, as well as, in most cases, the proposals of parliamentary groups, which are submitted for public discussion or introduced in the form of a bill.

(d) There is a huge gap between the numbers reported by SYRIZA (5.5 billion increase in spending on health and education). It is significant that only the following 7 measures: reduction of VAT on food, reduction of social security tax, 10% salary increase in the state with price indexation, tax-free 10,000 euros, return of retroactive payments in 3 stages, restoration of 13th pension , an increase in pension without taking into account the personal difference, they amount to more than 8 billion euros per year.

(e) I have requested a public meeting on Sunday at which the quantification of the New Democracy, SYRIZA and PASOK-KINAL programs will be discussed exhaustively and in detail based on all elements of the budget, and I await a response. It would be great progress if this invitation received a positive response.”