Two weeks before the opening of polling stations, the conflict N.D. – SYRIZA for programs is severe. OUR Alexis Tsipras Together, the financial headquarters accused the “blue faction” at an extraordinary press conference that the plan that it presented before the elections was not calculated, was fake, and a number of announcements were not included in the medium-term plan that it presented to the EU. The “bra” is harsh and SYRIZA emphasizes that everything included is salary increase for civil servants at a cost of 0.3% of GDP. From N.D. they reply that in addition to the specific amount of 500 million net per year, 700 million gross is also included in the base case.

Tax cuts

The list is long and SYRIZA claims that the ND is out of the mid-term abolition of sham pay, a tax-free increase of €1,000 per child, an 8% increase in the minimum guaranteed income and a reduction in insurance premiums. With a detailed announcement from Piraeus, they reply that it is superfluous. election events, there is an explicit reference and they have been defined as 0.1% of GDP in 2024, 0.3% of GDP in 2025 and 0.3% of GDP in 2026 (to be precise, 275 million euros in 2024, 609 million euros in 2025 and 761 million euros in 2026). Answering one by one, they emphasize that they include tax-free increase by €1,000 for families with children (cost €77 million per year), an increase of 8% minimum guaranteed income (worth €49m per annum), phasing out claim fees (worth €89m in 2025, €222m in 2026 and €443m in 2027) and phasing out insurance premiums (worth €230m in year). euros in 2025 and 2026 and 509 million in 2027).

State salary

Piraeus notes that after 12 years, the salaries of civil servants have increased thanks to measures such as the abolition of solidarity collection.

SYRIZA accuses the ND that the public sector wage bill, in terms of the purchasing power of workers, is declining by 730 million euros between 2023 and 2026. From the “blue” faction, they argue that the calculation is simplified, since tax incentives and the distribution of allowances should be taken into account in the wages of employees and civil servants. They add that for the first time in 12 years, civil servants have seen their wages rise as a result of measures such as the abolition of the solidarity levy.

Indirect taxes

Alexis Tsipras, during his testimony, analyzed how N.D. used inflation as a hidden tax, raising an estimated €6 billion in excess of what was predicted in the 2022 and 2023 budgets. In fact, the president of SYRIZA Sherzonomics characterized the view that the VAT cut would benefit the wealthy. From Piraeus, speaking about the next “lodge” of SYRIZA, they answered that VAT revenues increased to 21.5 billion euros in 2022 compared to 17.3 billion euros in 2021 (4.2 billion euros). Part of this increase came from tourism (+1.2 billion), 1.6 billion from an increase in private real consumption, and part (1.4 billion) from the impact of inflation. They add, in effect, that this money has been returned to citizens by increasing government spending on hospitals, education, pensions and equipment.

Health

Finally, Alexis Tsipras spoke about the hidden health agenda in connection with Spyros Pnevmatikos’ triage claims. According to SYRIZA, the ND plan includes the transformation of hospitals into legal entities of public law. From the blue faction, they recall thousands of recruits over the past four years, strengthening structures, and a commitment to recruit an additional 10,000 people over the next four years. They, as they say, show that the immediate priority is the national health system.