New Democracy secretary Konstantinos Kyranakis stressed the need to safeguard social peace, against the backdrop of violent incidents in France and Italy, in an interview with ERT. He also spoke about the need for dialogue with the younger generation, measures to address energy costs and young people’s employment prospects.
Warning of violence and call for dialogue with young people
Referring to scenes of violence and destruction in European cities, Kyranakis said that some people were seeking to bring similar incidents to Greece, involving even very young children.
“We will not let that happen,” he stressed, adding that Greece had moved on from periods marked by violence and damage to shops, businesses and people’s property.
“We have achieved this social calm and social peace in Greece, and there is no way we will let our country become like the streets of Paris,” he said.
Commenting on the debate over school occupations, the New Democracy secretary stressed the need for dialogue with school pupils and university students.
“Let us sit down with the pupils, let us sit down with the 15-member student councils,” he said, adding: “They should listen to us, and we should listen to them. The same goes for university students.”
Student housing and career prospects
On student housing, Konstantinos Kyranakis referred to the renovation of existing student halls and the construction of new ones, saying that efforts in this area must continue.
He also noted that the housing allowance for two students sharing accommodation totals €5,000, or €2,500 for each student. In a provincial town, he said, this amount “in practice means the state covers the entire rent”.
On young people’s career prospects, he stressed that the state and the media had a responsibility to guide them towards professions that offer good pay in Greece. He cited sectors where average salaries range from €2,500 to €3,500, noting that although the increase in the minimum wage was an achievement, it did not meet all the aspirations of the younger generation.
Energy, high prices and non-performing loans
On high prices and energy, the New Democracy secretary referred to measures involving heating oil, as well as €100 million in support for industry’s energy costs. He also spoke about negotiations at European level over a cut to the Special Consumption Tax (SCT).
He linked support for production to the prices ultimately paid by consumers, stressing that when there is fiscal headroom, available resources should be returned to society through targeted measures to support the most vulnerable.
On non-performing loans, he stressed the need to support people who genuinely cannot repay, while also respecting borrowers who meet their obligations.
He said debt arrangements needed to strike a balance, so as not to undermine “the value of meeting one’s obligations” or foster the perception that people who pay their dues out of what little they have are “some kind of suckers”.
New Democracy’s electoral prospects
Finally, speaking about New Democracy’s electoral prospects, Konstantinos Kyranakis expressed optimism about the party’s performance, citing the picture he said he had gained from touring Greece.
“The mood is not one for a 25% result,” he said, adding that his reading of the situation allowed him to express optimism about achieving the goal of an outright majority.
Source: ANA-MPA