Yesterday, during his speech to the Cabinet of Ministers, he, as before, stopped the supply of provisions. Kyriakos Mitsotakisnoting that Hellas has already done a lot in the field of supporting the population and business, and “the government will continue to do everything in its power”, while specifying that “we will not succumb to pressure beyond the upper limits that are given to us Main Accounting as well as Ministry of Finance“.

“Attention, resources are inexhaustible, and we must not forget that if the state today is able to support households and businesses with more than $ 2 billion a month on their electricity bills, it also owes a prudent policy that increased the public domain so that it could be returned to the citizens,” he said, concluding that “our measures will always be measured and without temporary need soothe national needs.”

The above remarks were made by Mr. Mitsotakis as, in his words, “I heard or read – it always happens, you know, before the International Exhibition in Thessaloniki – about a tsunami of impending benefits that often creates false expectations.”

Distance from populism

The report was considered necessary, on the one hand, for significant reasons, since indeed the Greek economy cannot enter into a frenzied benefit rate that will lay the foundation for the future of the country, on the other hand, for political reasons, as Kyriakos Mitsotakis does. not to reject the central philosophy of its policy of distancing itself from populism and engaging with a centrist audience that prioritizes such positions, while at the same time Athens is unwilling to send the wrong signals to international markets.

During a cabinet meeting, the prime minister referred to rumors of “a tsunami of benefits that often creates false expectations.”

The Prime Minister also raised the issue of introducing a ceiling on the wholesale price of natural gas and decoupling the price of electricity from its price, a proposal he has been putting forward for many months.

Tough winter

During the meeting, the MINISTER made a detailed review Christos Staikouras, the course of the Greek economy (exports, deposits, tourism receipts) and the lines of defense supported by the government, as well as the “European view” of the energy crisis by Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas. It is common knowledge that the upcoming winter will be very difficult, but the government rules out planned power outages. However, Mr. Mitsotakis stressed that as long as Moscow uses natural gas as a weapon, the crisis will deepen.

He also warned that “if something radical is not done at the European level, then big countries are in danger of falling apart.” He even predicted that the current crisis “shares characteristics of a pandemic in terms of its potential impact on the economy.” In conclusion, Mr. Mitsotakis said that “after the statements of the President of the European Commission, as well as the revitalization of the Czech Presidency, I will say that better late than never. However, I will insist that every day that goes by without a single response to the energy crisis will exacerbate problems for all Europeans.”

Spring elections

At the same time, Mr. Mitsotakis, setting the political framework, asked the cabinet to act “more politically” before the elections, which he reiterated, would be held in nine months. Finally, the prime minister asked his ministers to form a “political center” that would exchange views on current issues and coordinate the work of the government with an electoral horizon of 2023.

Putin, Erdogan and the government

An important issue raised by Kyriakos Mitsotakis at yesterday’s cabinet meeting was Russia’s role in what is happening in Old Epirus, not only at the energy but also at the political level.

“The war in Ukraine is already six months old” and “Russia is now attacking Europe as a whole using natural gas as a weapon,” he said, focusing on a frenetic price rally that has risen 1,000% and is “ten times higher than before.” the beginning of the crisis,” which is also fueling “unprecedented inflationary pressures.”

Political part

This, however, is one side, since Mr. Mitsotakis touched upon the political aspect as well.

“I would even say that this is also a strategic threat, because now everything shows that Moscow seeks to create social unrest through economic pressure, as well as political instability within countries that react to its plans,” he said, concluding that “this is the price borne by the front of freedom, international law and democracy.”

For those with doubts, Mr. Mitsotakis said that “they only need to see how organized Russian energy blackmail is and how accuracy is trying to be a catalyst for individual issues to be exaggerated and national issues to be questioned, sometimes in general.” governments,” including Mr. Erdogan: “Mr. Putin does not hide this, and neither does Mr. Erdogan, who has publicly stated that he would like another government in Athens,” he concluded.