Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis appeared on Mega TV on Saturday morning (27 June 2026), responding to recent statements by former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras regarding Greece’s primary budget surplus, opinion polls, and speculation about a new political party being formed by Antonis Samaras.
“Maximising Fiscal Space Within EU Rules”
Marinakis stressed that the current government is making full use of the fiscal flexibility permitted under European Union regulations. He dismissed Tsipras’s proposals as fiscally unfeasible — comparing the former PM to the character Tependris, played by Lambros Konstantaras in the classic Greek comedy The Crazy Fifty-Year-Old.
“Mr. Tsipras is operating ‘à la Tependris’ — promising money that simply doesn’t exist,” Marinakis said, adding that such rhetoric echoes the SYRIZA-led government’s turbulent years: the 2015 referendum, capital controls, steep tax hikes, and the heavy economic burden placed on Greek citizens.
Tax Policy and Economic Progress
On taxation, Marinakis affirmed the government’s commitment to lowering taxes for all citizens — especially for the middle class and lower-income households — while rejecting any logic behind new burdens on businesses. He argued that job creation and support for entrepreneurship deliver far greater economic benefits than increased taxation.
Citing post-2019 progress, he pointed to rising investment and exports, the creation of approximately 600,000 new jobs, and the reduction of dozens of taxes. “We didn’t start from zero,” he noted, recalling the successive global crises the government inherited — from the pandemic to energy shocks and inflationary pressures.
Realistic Expectations, Gradual Gains
Addressing cost-of-living concerns, Marinakis acknowledged that Greece still ranks relatively low on key European quality-of-life indicators. Yet he insisted the country has made substantial ground: “Greece didn’t wake up in Zurich in 2019 — it was in the third basement. Now it’s climbing floor by floor.”
Regarding current polling and the political landscape, Marinakis suggested that — barring any major surprise — Tsipras remains the most likely opposition leader in the next election. He described many of Tsipras’s current positions as recycled slogans, lacking a credible implementation plan.