Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis conveyed a message of stability within the government majority and reaffirmed his personal commitment to holding elections in 2027, a statement he made during a conversation with journalist Francine Lacqua on Monday, November 18, at a Bloomberg event in Athens, titled “The New Era of Greek Banking.”
“The government has a solid 2.5-year mandate from the people to implement its policies,” Mitsotakis stated, adding that this eliminates the need for discussions around complex political alliances.
When asked about the expelling of former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras from the ruling New Democracy (ND) party on Saturday, a decision which could prove to impact the cohesion of the conservative ND, according to some, Mitsotakis stated “What is done, is done!” emphasizing that his primary concern is the future of the country.
On the economic front, he emphasized that “investors trust Greece because it does not pose a risk.” He also mentioned that the country could proceed with tax cuts as long as it continues to effectively tackle tax evasion. “We will outperform growth expectations,” he confidently remarked.
Mitsotakis further announced that Greece plans to make an early repayment of 5 billion euros in loans from the first bailout program by 2025, which were originally set to mature between 2033 and 2042. He highlighted that this move follows the early repayment of 8 billion euros in December, demonstrating Greece’s commitment to fiscal stability and debt reduction.
When asked about his phone call with the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump, Mitsotakis described it as a friendly conversation. Trump acknowledged Greece’s economic progress, particularly in tax reduction and creating a business-friendly environment, he stated.
The prime minister further revealed that both leaders reaffirmed the strong U.S.-Greece strategic partnership, which includes expanded defense cooperation and robust economic ties, evidenced by increased American investments in Greece.
Regarding Trump’s recent government appointments, Mitsotakis specifically mentioned the new U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, noting that “it’s good that he understands the complexities of our region.”
On energy issues, the prime minister criticized the current state of the European energy market, stating that a real European energy market does not exist. “We have something that merely resembles it.” he said, while adding “It’s unacceptable that Southeast European countries are penalized by an algorithm favoring wealthier nations. Energy price reductions should benefit everyone.”
He claimed that Greece is a leader in the energy transition, although the corresponding benefits are not yet fully realized.
Mitsotakis concluded by expressing frustration over price disparities within the European market, questioning why the same product costs differently in Greece compared to other European countries. “This is not a unified market,” he asserted.
Source: tovima.com
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