In a sharp political escalation, PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis has submitted an urgent parliamentary question to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, demanding concrete action against Greece’s worsening cost-of-living crisis. Androulakis accused the government of failing to tackle soaring prices—and criticized its response as little more than symbolic expressions of regret and frustration.
‘Sorrow and Anger’ Aren’t Enough
Androulakis referenced Mitsotakis’s November 2025 statement in Parliament, where the prime minister attributed rising inflation primarily to external shocks—including the pandemic, the energy crisis, and the war in Ukraine. Six months later, according to PASOK, citizens have seen no tangible relief. Instead, Androulakis pointed to Mitsotakis’s recent remarks at the New Democracy party congress—where he said he ‘feels sorrow and anger’ because inflation is eroding household incomes—as evidence of policy failure.
No Extension for Profit Margin Cap
A key point of contention is the government’s decision not to extend the cap on corporate profit margins after a high-level meeting with business representatives on 29 June. While the administration secured commitments from retailers to freeze prices for the next two months, PASOK argues this amounts to little more than a temporary delay—not a solution. Androulakis described it as a ‘postponement of the problem’, not a resolution.
Criticism of ‘PosoKanei’ Price-Comparison Platform
The PASOK leader also questioned the government’s investment in the new price-comparison platform ‘PosoKanei’, calling it a rebranded version of the older e-Consumer portal. With a reported cost of €370,000 (excluding VAT), he implied that public funds are being spent more on communication than on substantive anti-inflation measures.
Alarming Eurostat Data
In his parliamentary question, Androulakis cited Eurostat figures showing Greece has recorded higher inflation than both the eurozone and EU averages for six consecutive months. Food prices tell a particularly stark story: cumulative increases from July 2019 to April 2026 reached 42.4%—well above EU and eurozone levels. He further linked inflation to housing costs, rent hikes, mounting overdue debts, and negative household savings—arguing that pressure on Greek families is structural, not merely cyclical.
Questioning the ‘Surplus’ Narrative
Androulakis challenged the government’s celebration of fiscal ‘surpluses’, asserting they stem not from sustainable growth but from inflation-driven tax revenues—revenues that, he argued, extract value from households already under strain. According to PASOK, current policies risk deepening inequality rather than delivering fair economic redistribution.