“The TIF package will be as large as possible, but make no mistake: the opposition parties will certainly promise much more than New Democracy. We will promise the least and deliver on everything. People know this, which is why I believe New Democracy will do well in the upcoming elections."
This was emphasized by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis in an interview on SKAI TV. “We,” he added, “have been moving forward since 2019 with prudence, common sense, and steady steps. We are not miracle workers. If some people are looking for miracles, they should look elsewhere. Let them go to the opposition parties that keep coming back with the same populist recipes and lies.”
Kostis Hatzidakis emphasized that the TIF “package,” which will be finalized in August, will primarily aim to reduce direct taxes for citizens and support the vulnerable. “Last year,” he recalled, “we relied on additional revenue from growth and the reduction of tax evasion; we abolished taxes for young people aged 20–25 and reduced them by 50% for those aged 25–30.”
“On the other hand, we have an opposition characterized by toxicity, hostility, far-fetched theories in some parties, and populism that goes beyond all limits,” he noted. He cited as a prime example Mr. Androulakis’s promises of free public transportation for young people up to age 24, which Mr. Tsipras outbid with a promise of free public transportation for everyone. “These are not serious matters,” Kostis Hatzidakis emphasized.
“Whatever one may hold against New Democracy, it remains the only political force on which the country can rely to move forward toward 2030 and address international challenges. No one can rely on the opposition.”
When asked about the polls, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that after seven years in government, it is understandable that there is fatigue among a segment of society; however, New Democracy continues to lead.
“What is certain,” he concluded, “is that we are ahead and that we must continue our work with humility, seriousness, and effectiveness. Despite the mistakes that have been made, it is certain that the country has improved in many and varied ways in recent years. Unemployment has fallen from 18% to 8%, and 560,000 new jobs have been created.
Deposits have increased significantly, from 140 billion to over 200 billion, and three-fifths of that increase comes from households. In tourism, we rank among the top 10–12 countries in the world, with 40 million tourists, and the country is converging with the EU average. We will continue as effectively as we can; we will present our agenda for 2030, which the Prime Minister has honored me by entrusting me to coordinate, and we will move forward based on common sense and good European practices to meet the needs of the country and the new era.”