Mitsotakis from Parliament: Investment grade status by late 2023; repayment of bailout loans before expiration

Re-elected Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday unveiled policy statements in Parliament for his second-term government, underlining that the country has finally exited a lengthy period of lies, negativity, and toxicity, a reference at the main opposition since 2019.

“We kept society going, and at the same time fulfilled all our campaign promises (between 2019-2013),” he told a plenary session of Parliament, which will conclude with a vote of confidence of Saturday night.

“Citizens rewarded us and asked us to proceed with major changes. We do not have, I do not have, the right to contradict their expectations.”

Mitsotakis said his new government’s program was already known, reiterating the main priorities for the next four years, such as achieving investment grade status by the end of the year for the country’s debt; repaying first bailout memorandum loans even before their maturity, posting “reasonable primary surpluses,” reducing public debt as a ratio to GDP significantly below 140 percent by 2027; decreasing unemployment to 8 percent within the next four years; raising exports as a ratio to GDP above 60 percent, and easing inequalities through permanent support measures and targeted initiatives when necessary.

He also announced public sector wage increases, from the beginning of the year, the first in more than 13 years, as well as an emphasis on education, health and social cohesion, along with a “green” and digital transformation of the country.

Additionally, Mitsotakis said other priorities are in the justice system, namely, speeding up court decisions and adjudication of litigation, as well as boosting national defense.