Skylakakis: In 2023 we will get the economic rank – Greece is changing course | modules, economy
Convinced that Greece will receive investment grade in 2023, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Theodoros Skylakakis, appeared in the Parliament, saying characteristically that with the reforms, investments and extroversion, the country is truly changing economically.
Mr. Skylakakis spoke of an improvement that will be felt by the people, a steady and continuous improvement that is not interrupted by crises.
The move by Mr. Skylakakis to provoke a comparison with the SYRIZA government ignited the blood in the Plenary.
He specifically said:
in terms of taxes and expenditures:
– In 2014, employees heard from SYRIZA pre-election promises for an increase in the tax-free allowance to 12 thousand euros and an increase in the minimum wage to 751 euros. What did he do; He increased the solidarity levy for all incomes and reduced – instead of increasing as promised – the tax-free allowance to €8,636. He eliminated tax credits for medical expenses while not raising the minimum wage. In our period, we proceeded with the permanent abolition of the solidarity levy, increase of the tax-free allowance, a reduction of 4 units of insurance contributions and two increases of the minimum wage to 713 euros.
– Freelancers and SMEs: In the period 2015-18 they saw an increase in taxation, an increase in advance tax to 100% – strangulation of any prospect of profit investment – an increase in tax on legal entities and dividends. In our period there was a reduction in the tax rate for natural persons to 9% and for legal persons from 29% to 22% and for dividends from 15% to 5%. We also had a reduction in advance tax to 55%.
– Pensioners heard SYRIZA in 2014 promising them a pension increase. What did he do; He proceeded to more than 10 different reductions such as: reduction of minimum pension, reduction of supplementary benefits, increase of health contribution, reduction of disability pension, abolition of EKAS. What did we do? We abolished the solidarity levy, increased the pension expenditure from 28 billion. euros to 31.7 billion euros.
– Owners and in detail: they heard SYRIZA promising them the abolition of ENFIA. Finally, SYRIZA increased it and extended it to the parcels of land. We in 209 promised a reduction of ENFIA by 30%. We ended up reducing him by 35%.
– Consumers. What did SYRIZA do? It increased VAT from 23% to 24% and for many products from 13% to 24%. He put new taxes on the telephone on the Internet on pay TV on computers, on beer, coffee, on gasoline, on oil and on heating oil. It also abolished the reduced rate on the islands. In our period, we had a permanent VAT reduction on the 5 islands, a tax reduction on mobile telephony, temporary VAT reductions, cinema cafes, etc. All this with parallel measures in the crisis period with a larger advance of 8.3 billion euros that supported the most consistent.
– In Health, the 2019 expenditures were 3.9 billion. euros in 2023 to 5.2 billion euro. In Education expenditure in 2019 5.5 billion. euros while in 2023 they increase to 6.1 billion. euro”
In response, the parliamentary representative of the official opposition, Yiannis Ragousis, accused Mr. Skylakakis of deception as he compared the memorandum past with the post-memorandum present, noting that the SYRIZA government took the country out of the memorandums.
“When they made the promises of the Thessaloniki program, didn’t you know what the country’s economic situation was? What are you three years old? You caused the 3rd memorandum” replied Mr. Skylakakis to add that Mr. Ragousis was also PASOK minister at the time of signing the first memorandum as well.
Nikos Karathanasopoulos of the KKE also intervened in the debate, saying that two nice four-legged friends were arguing in a foreign barn. “I accept the description of four-legged likes. It is both patient and hard-working and kicks when disturbed!” answered Mr. Skylakakis.