Dep. Finance Min. blasts opposition for not voting for new finance bill

The Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Haris Theocharis, severely criticized the opposition for its two-faced attitude, in the context of the debate in the Parliament on the new economic bill.

“Things are simple,” said Mr. Theoharis, concluding his intervention, “whoever wants to vote for the measures, votes for them. Anyone who does not vote for them means that they are not giving these 4.4 billion euros to the Greek people. Pensioners, civil servants, young people, all the beneficiaries will remember it. Be sure that they will remember your stance today in the voting.”

Previously, the Deputy Minister pointed out that “with the very first bill of the Ministry of Finance, the government of New Democracy is proceeding with the implementation of 50% of its program for the economy. Because this is the sample of maturity of the Greek people: With their vote, the Greeks showed that they prefer a 9.1 billion euro program to the 83 billion euro program of SYRIZA. The Greek people, therefore, have chosen a prudent, fiscally correct course, which relieves the workers within the framework of the possibilities of the Greek economy”.

Bill provisions

In particular, regarding the beneficial provisions of the new bill, Mr. Haris Theocharis pointed out that “six plans are served by this bill: 1. A plan to support the income of civil servants. 2. Family and youth support plan. Payroll wise with the Youth Pass, but also with the tax-free increase of 1,000 euros. 3. Property support plan, with a reduction of the ENFIA property tax for homes insured against natural disasters. 4. Plan to support vulnerable citizens, with the Market Pass and the exemption from pharmaceutical expenses for those who lost the EKAS. 5. Plan to improve the efficiency of the public sector, with increases in the position of responsibility allowance and entry salary. 6. Plan to support law and citizens’ trust in politics and the political system. Because the New Democracy government implements 50% of its program with a bill through which the possibility of parties to cost their programs is instituted and thus we will top having an unpleasant discussion about costs”.

Finally, returning to the positions expressed by the opposition parties, Mr. Theoharis emphasized that “we had the SYRIZA shill, who told us that he would vote for the bill on principle and finally changed his mind. We have the PASOK leader who votes for the positive articles – that is, all of them – but does not vote for the bill in principle. Unfortunately you have not realized what the meaning of the recent vote of the Greek people is. This is the saddest thing. The Greek people demand a responsible opposition. But you say ‘no’, just to say ‘no’. I wish you would change your attitude. We in New Democracy will continue on the course where the Greek people ordered us, implementing our program with faith and exactly as we promised before the elections”.