“Greece welcomes the agreement announced between the U.S. and Iran and commends all diplomatic efforts in this direction,” said government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis during a briefing with political editors. He spoke of the need to restore maritime traffic and noted that “the data indicates a clear de-escalation, and we expect this to be passed on to consumers. The government will monitor this as a top priority.”
When asked to comment on the five-point package proposed by Alexis Tsipras, Mr. Marinakis emphasized: “Mr. Tsipras did not ultimately rebrand himself, but instead stepped into the dustbin of history and returned, unchanged, to 2015, when, before his about-face, he promised everyone everything. Once again, we are hearing a slew of uncosted proposals that, if ever implemented, will lead our country from one bailout agreement to the next. For example, regarding the free public transit he promised, I’ll remind you that under SYRIZA, the fare went from 1.20 to 1.40 and returned to 1.20 during our time in office.
The big difference today compared to 2012–2015 is that we’ve seen firsthand how these promises turn into the opposite actions, and the public has witnessed this. Politics matters in practice; what sets Mr. Tsipras apart from other opposition leaders is that he has served as the country’s prime minister. Fortunately, under the law, parties are required to cost their pre-election platforms.”
Regarding the barbs Prokopis Pavlopoulos directed at the government over its proposals for constitutional revision, the government spokesperson said: “There is respect for the former President of the Republic and for a man with a long academic career. Point by point, however, if one looks at our proposals, one will notice that they were many years in the making. Unresolved issues that are finally being addressed lay a strong foundation for our democracy. May there be the broad consensus required for Greece to enter a new era.”
Regarding the new article in To Vima concerning the wiretaps, Mr. Marinakis commented: “In this specific case, the answers are provided by the justice system; there is no new evidence—all of this consists of rumors with no basis in reality and media reports. I have no insight, updates, or information regarding any of this; it doesn’t come from anywhere. The executive, legislative, and judicial branches are distinct. The insistence of some to keep bringing up this issue—without downplaying it—has begun to wear people down.”
At the same time, he denied a report in the newspaper Demokratia regarding a provision the government is introducing so that Dillian can be tried in his home country, Israel.
International law
Regarding Haftar’s visit to Athens, he noted that “Greece respects international law. Every bilateral meeting serves our national interests.”
Regarding the revelations in the urban planning scandal, the government spokesperson stated: “An effort is being made to blame the government for this case rather than give it credit. Just like dozens of others on which the courts will decide. Over the past few years, dozens of serious cases have been uncovered and brought to justice. An attempt is being made to target individuals without evidence. This has happened many times before, and subsequently, no incriminating evidence has emerged. There is no evidence linking these individuals to the case. If anyone believes that a government can press a button and make those committing criminal offenses stop committing crimes, that is obviously not the case.”
Regarding the possibility of announcing a reduction in advance tax payments for small and medium-sized enterprises at the Thessaloniki International Fair, Mr. Marinakis noted: “I have no information; we are still in the planning phase. We need to see the final fiscal space. The goal is to continue on the path of tax cuts; indeed, emphasis must be placed on small and medium-sized enterprises. We have already reduced corporate tax, the advance tax payment, and the tax on dividends.”
When asked to comment on the position of acting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, which was established by a relevant amendment, he stated: “This specific legislative initiative was supported in Parliament by the minister himself, and it was passed with the presence of nearly all the other parties; in essence, no argument was raised to undermine it. It ensures the continuity of the state; no one questions Ms. Papadopoulou personally or the substance of the matter.”
Regarding the doubling of the metropolitans’ salaries, he said: “I understand the initial reaction because certain parties and media outlets are deliberately reporting the gross amounts rather than the net. It is not excessive for a high-ranking clergyman to earn 1,500 euros more than the salary of the government’s secretary-general, which is less than 3,000 euros. This has been a pending issue for years. If anyone believes that a metropolitan should earn less than a mufti, let them come out and say so.”