In a sharp critique of government policy, PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis accused New Democracy (ND) of treating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as obstacles to growth—while PASOK sees them as the backbone of Greece’s productive economy. Speaking at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, Androulakis outlined his party’s proposals and underscored a fundamental philosophical divide with the ruling party.
A Dialogue Rooted in Real Economy
His appearance marked the first in a new dialogue series launched by the Athens Chamber, inviting political leaders to discuss the present and future of SMEs. The intervention aligns with PASOK’s broader strategy—inspired by the legacy of Charilaos Trikoupis—to shift political confrontation from macroeconomic indicators and presentation slides to the actual cash registers of small businesses, where, Androulakis said, growth “never arrives.”
Criticism of Recovery Fund Use
Androulakis strongly criticized how European Recovery Fund resources have been deployed in Greece. Though around €85 billion flowed into the country in recent years, he argued the funds failed to act as a catalyst for modernizing SMEs. Of approximately 820,000 micro and small enterprises, only 15,170—just 1.85%—have accessed financing, mostly through microloans or working capital. Meanwhile, overdue tax debts rose by €3.77 billion in one year.
“Recovery Fund resources were directed mainly toward those who already had easy access to finance,” he stated, suggesting a development model that excludes the vast majority of small businesses—and prompting the pointed question: “Is this what the Recovery Fund was for?”
Cost-of-Living and Symbolic Measures
On the issue of rising living costs, Androulakis stressed that when consumers’ wallets empty, so do SMEs’ tills. He accused the government of relying on symbolic gestures—shopping vouchers, letters, digital platforms, and announcements—without confronting oligopolies or multinational corporations.
He mocked the government’s list of 2,000 product codes allegedly linked to price cuts, noting that no one knows which products they refer to—“unless they’re crab claws, brooms, or hair clips.”
Androulakis also took aim at Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself, referencing recent remarks in which the PM expressed both sorrow and anger over inflation. “We’ve reached the point where the prime minister tells us he feels sorry—and angry—about high prices. Thank you for your sympathy—but it’s not enough,” he said.