"On television we often see reruns of series, like the legendary Retire, and they score high in viewership. That doesn't mean that what happens on Greek television also happens in politics." This is how government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis commented on the double intervention of Antonis Samaras via Tik Tok.
"I don't think the people watching us right now are concerned with the personal agenda of any of us. Politics, in order to be effective, must have a beginning, middle, and end and offer solutions, looking at the present and the future. Yes, we must not forget the past, but woe if every time one of us had complaints and objections, they proceeded to a personal, political move, then we wouldn't be talking about ND, but about a small, marginal party, which is usually the case in the left. Here we are talking about a large party where there are certainly different voices, but at the end of the day we see the big picture. And the goal is to strengthen the party and not to hurt it. I insist firmly and I say that I do not want to enter into a constant process of arguments with a man who has reached the office of prime minister and I and many others have stood by his side when he was president of ND," he noted.
Regarding the surveillance of MEP Stelios Kouloglou with malicious software when he was a member of the PEGA Committee, Mr. Marinakis stressed that "the government knows nothing nor is it involved in any way. If Mr. Kouloglou believes there is something reprehensible in a personal matter, the only way is through justice."
The government spokesperson made known that the topical question of Nikos Androulakis about inflation will be answered by the prime minister on Friday in Parliament and continued: "We are trying to prove that the easy road promised by the opposition leads nowhere. If only there was a button the government could press and prices would drop. We don't just describe what we will give, but also the cost and where we will find the money. We are moving towards increasing citizens' income. Inflation remains a huge issue, but the point is not the findings, but what solutions each one proposes."
"They are anything but pranksters"
On the issue of the Secretary General of National Security, Th. Dokos, Pavlos Marinakis noted:
"If there is a major problem beyond the security system that does not concern only our country, it is the ease with which some opposition parties and a part of the media believe without a second thought some who claim to be Russian pranksters who are anything but pranksters, if one looks a little more carefully at their activity. In order to demand the resignation of a state official, they uncritically adopt what some who claim to be Russian pranksters say. Look at the difference in the handling of the Dokos case and how similar incidents were dealt with in other countries, even with leaders of other states. It is noted that no sensitive data was leaked from the specific conversation."
Regarding today's event of Tsipras' party on corruption, Mr. Marinakis said:
"No one feels sorry for us. The interview should have taken place yesterday about corruption, so that they could apologize on behalf of their president for the divisive, shameful referendum and the 120 billion that -like yesterday- was loaded onto our backs for no reason at all. If Tsipras' flip-flop hadn't happened and if ND and PASOK MPs hadn't voted, today none of us would be able to speak within the euro. Greece was last in growth rates, the Tsipras government increased more than 30 taxes, 560,000 people from 2019 until today found jobs. Until then, Europe was raining growth, while since the pandemic one crisis has followed another."
Regarding Tsipras' proposal for the abolition of national exams, the government spokesperson commented:
"This proposal is the epitome of populism and the ultimate mockery of the country's students, primarily because Mr. Tsipras does not come to tell us his counter-proposal. He grabs onto something we all agree on, that the system needs improvements, and puts a catchy title to become likable, like all populists."
Regarding the NATO Summit in Ankara, where the prime minister is traveling tomorrow, Mr. Marinakis said that there are no scheduled meetings with D. Trump and T. Erdogan.