‘Major corruption and tax-evasion cases have been uncovered over the past few years and referred to the justice system by the audit authorities. It is attracting considerable attention today because we have seen repeated busts of criminal networks. But the effort, through both inspections and legislative initiatives that we passed at a cost, did not start now.’
Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis made the remarks in an interview on Real FM radio today, citing specific examples of cases uncovered in previous years.
‘In 2023, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) uncovered €30 million in digital tax evasion by online shops. In 2024, when I was finance minister, AADE uncovered a major tax-evasion ring in the mobile phone trade and imposed fines of €130 million. Also in 2024, during my term, the same authority uncovered €10.5 million in tax evasion by two betting companies. In 2026, it uncovered €720 million in fictitious invoices involving 147 businesses. The case attracted considerable publicity. The police’s “Greek FBI” has also dismantled more than 250 criminal organisations in the two years it has been operating.
In 2023, when I became a minister, one of the first issues I had to tackle was lawbreaking on beaches. Now, reports that first emerged then are resurfacing more forcefully, including about “musclemen” at tenders and so on. That is why, since then, we have run tenders centrally and electronically. Earlier, in 2022 and 2023, a major effort was made to demolish various illegal structures on Mykonos and other islands. Some people may remember Principote, for example. I name it to show that there is awareness of these issues and that, as the years go by, both AADE and the “FBI” are becoming better organised.’
The Deputy Prime Minister also recalled some of the legislative initiatives that had been undertaken: ‘I personally passed some of them, at a cost. We introduced 11 initiatives to tackle tax evasion in 2023 and 2024. They ranged from the way property transactions are carried out to petrol stations and, of course, linking POS terminals to cash registers. Today, 490,000 businesses are connected. Tax evasion, to a greater or lesser extent, has been curbed. The VAT gap has fallen from 23%-24% to 9%-9.5%, reaching the European Union average. None of this happened automatically or through prayer.’
Kostis Hatzidakis stressed that there are, of course, pockets of lawbreaking within the public sector itself. ‘There are sometimes rotten apples in the basket. It is our duty to find them and show no leniency towards such conduct. Again, when I was a minister, a ring of tax officials was uncovered in Chalkida. The necessary steps were taken and they were referred to the justice system. The creation of the “FBI” is also intended to address this. It has dismantled some very difficult criminal networks in the fuel and cigarette trade. All these examples show that the government is doing its job.’
Answering questions, the Deputy Prime Minister said:
- On measures to tackle the energy crisis: ‘The question is how much money you can spend without receiving yellow and red cards from Brussels and the markets, at a time of major turbulence in the bond market. The amount the government is providing is the most we can afford. The prime minister has called at the European Council for greater flexibility. And the Greek government is no longer the only one moving in this direction. We all recognise that the winter will be harsh across Europe, both in terms of energy and inflation. We will do what we can, always acting responsibly and seriously. As you know, the European Union does not make decisions overnight. Perhaps it should, but that is the reality.’
- On the choice facing voters: ‘Stability as a goal is not enough, especially when people talk about stability at a time of major international crisis. The choice ultimately is: “Realistic hope with New Democracy or turmoil?” We have a record of achievement. We promised little and have done almost everything. We have a better leader than the leaders of the opposition parties, a better political team and, certainly, a better programme. I am coordinating its preparation. It will combine honesty with many elements of innovation for a future that is challenging and approaching fast. That is what we will present. And the Greeks, who decide both the future of our country and what happens to each household, will decide whether they think Mr Androulakis, Mr Tsipras, Mr Velopoulos, Ms Konstantopoulou or any of the other leaders are better than Mitsotakis. The people are in charge in democracies.’
- On the prospect of post-election cooperation: ‘New Democracy’s position is to win a majority on its own. We have worked with PASOK before. Theoretically, that could have happened in this case too. But PASOK shut the door in the most formal way possible at its congress. That is its right. Beyond that, PASOK and the other opposition parties throw stones at one another every day. The toxicity and mutual hostility between them may be unprecedented. That is why we say the country needs clear solutions and a government with a clear mandate. And because we believe that is necessary, we say it needs a majority on its own.’