Marinakis: Opposition Demands Government to Default on Country’s Debt

In response to criticism from opposition parties regarding the measures announced by the Prime Minister following the surplus, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis clarified that the opposition’s claims are misleading. ‘The opposition either doesn’t know or demands that the government default on the country’s debt,’ Marinakis emphasized. He explained that out of the primary surplus of €11 billion, Greece must first pay its loan obligations and interest, leaving only a small portion available for public spending. The government has allocated this surplus towards infrastructure investments, rent support for citizens, and pension benefits. Marinakis criticized the opposition, stating they mislead the public by suggesting all surplus funds could be directly distributed without accounting for debt servicing. Furthermore, he highlighted the differences between the current administration and previous governments, particularly Syriza, noting that the current surplus is due to economic growth and anti-tax evasion efforts rather than increased taxation. Lastly, Marinakis addressed concerns about rental prices, emphasizing policies aimed at reducing them through market regulation.