ekathimerini -The Greek Letter - 8 September 2024 - PM Mitsotakis sets out gbovernment economic policies and more ..

 

Prime Minister sets out government economic policies[InTime News] Constantine CapsaskisNewsletter Editor Welcome to the weekly round-up of news by Kathimerini English Edition. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis set out his government’s economic policies from the podium of the Thessaloniki International Fair during his keynote address on Saturday night. “We have 1,000 days […] to implement all our commitments”, said the prime minister and presented a total of 45 measures. They include a reduction of social security contributions by 1%, a 2.2% to 2.5% increase to pension payouts, and a pledge to increase the country’s minimum wage to 950 euros a month by April 2027. “My primary goal is to continuously increase the minimum wage. This is a central policy commitment on which I would like to be judged at the end of the term,” he said during a follow-up press conference on Sunday. Mitsotakis also stated that doctors working for the National Health System (ESY) will receive increased compensation for night shifts, estimated at about 130 euros a month. “The second goal is to reform the ESY. I am aware of the public’s concerns. The ESY requires significant changes. By 2027, we should have many new hospitals and better-paid doctors.”, stated the prime minister on Sunday. The situation in the housing market was also addressed during the speech, with Mitsotakis announcing tax incentives for landlords to pursue long-term leasing instead of short-term letting, a new program to facilitate the securing of low-interest rate mortgages for young professionals or couples looking to buy their first home, and a ban on new short-term letting properties in Athens for at least a year. The prime minister also discussed the ongoing diplomatic efforts to smooth bilateral relations with Turkey on Sunday. ““I have never been under any illusions about the challenges of engaging with Turkey. I clearly recognize that the core of Turkish revisionism remains unchanged. The ‘Blue Homeland’ [foreign policy doctrine] remains a significant challenge to our country’s sovereign rights,” he said but stated that he will continue to raise the issue with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stating that “it is a major obstacle in resolving our key dispute over the delineation of the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone.” Spotlight Athens is also closely monitoring the latest developments in the Turkish-Egyptian rapprochement. The bilateral agreements announced during the visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to Ankara this week (for the first time in 12 years), and the evident convergence on key issues like Libya, did not come as a shock to the Greek Foreign Ministry, as it maintains good links with its Egyptian counterpart. The goal of Greece is to move forward with several Greek-Egyptian initiatives, including the high-level cooperation council announced last year. Foreign Minister Georgos Gerapetritis is also expecting to meet with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, with reports noting that the latter may travel to Athens in the coming days. Furthermore, a trilateral meeting between Greece, Egypt, and Cyprus is set to take place in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.   The Greek Paralympic team has won a total of 13 medals so far in the Paris Games Athanasios Ghavelas won the men’s 100m T11 final, his second consecutive first place finish following his gold at the Tokyo games. Swimmer Alexandra Stamatopoulou won gold in the women’s 50m backstroke S4 category and Athanasios Konstantinidis won his second gold medal (following a first-place finish in Rio de Janeiro in 2016) in the shot put F32 category. Konstantinidis also earned a silver medal in the club throw F32. Antonios Tsapatakis, who will be Greece’s flagbearer at the closing ceremony, won silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB4 race and Lida-Maria Manthopoulou finished second in the 100m T38 event. Christina Gkentzou (women’s Taekwondo 65kg), Eleni Papastamatopoulou (women’s Taekwondo +65 kg), Grigorios Polychronidis (men’s individual Boccia BC3), Konstantinos Tzounis (men’s discus throw F56), Lazaros Stefanidis (men’s shot put F32), Manolis Stefanoudakis (men’s javelin throw F54) and Theodora Paschalidou (women’s Judo 70kg J1) all won bronze medals.

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OPINION Tom EllisEditor-in-Chief, Kathimerini English Edition SYRIZA’s drama continues[InTime News] The never-ending drama of SYRIZA’s internal strife continued over the weekend with the members of the party’s central committee voting – 163 to 120 – to have yet another election for head of the party. The development follows the open and very vocal challenge to Kasselakis’ leadership by many members of SYRIZA’s party hierarchy. After the party’s crushing defeat in the 2023 national elections, and the resignation of its charismatic leader and former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, there has been constant infighting with different fractions pulling in several directions. There was a major split with numerous well-known members of the party, among them former ministers of Finance Euclid Tsakalotos, Economy and Development Alexis Charitsis, and Labor Effie Achtsioglou, leaving SYRIZA and creating their own party, New Left. Since Stefanos Kasselakis came to the forefront – from being a political unknown and member of the diaspora – and became leader of the party, there has been constant internal friction. He has been criticized for creating a one man show, not respecting differing points of view. In any case, his image is further tarnished as only 120 members of the total membership of the central committee voted down the motion against him and thus can be counted as staunch supporters of his. After Sunday’s developments the next steps will be a special party congress and a new election process where the supporters and friends of SYRIZA will vote for a new leader (Kasselakis could stand again). What is clear though is that with the drama continuing for a year now, it seems increasingly difficult for SYRIZA to remain united, let alone to be able to effectively function as the country’s main opposition. This chaos is understandably welcome news for the ruling New Democracy, as well as for the other center left party, PASOK; it remains to be seen if the uncertainty and volatility in the political system is good for Greece’s democracy.

CHART OF THE WEEK

The union representing public hospital staff commissioned a survey on the situation of hospitals in northern Greece ahead of the Thessaloniki International Fair. The results paint a dire picture. There are significant staffing shortages, with the lack of anesthesiologists being particularly striking, and long surgery waiting lists. The survey points out that of the ten operating theaters of the AHEPA General University Hospital, only four are in service due to a lack of staff and medical supplies. The majority of doctors are also found to be disillusioned with the prevailing situation, with 59% of young doctors responding that they plan to leave Greece. Most (75.6%) cite the lack of research opportunities, 70% stated they suffer from burn-out, and 61% are disappointed with the infrastructure of their hospitals.

ESCAPADE The taste of Lesvos: Vasilas’ traditional ladotyri cheese Vasilas’ ladotyri cheese, aged in olive oil and bursting with flavor, is the perfect representation of Lesvos’ rich cheesemaking tradition. Go to article >

ECONOMY IN A NUTSHELL

“The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,443.13 points on Friday, up 0.83% from last week.”

“The merger between Attica Bank and Pancreta Bank was finalized, following final approvals. The new unified bank will be the country’s fifth largest (by estimated assets) and will likely seek to compete with the “big four” systemic lenders.”

“A record-breaking total of 254,213 Turkish nationals have visited the islands of the North Aegean since April, following the establishment of the seven-day ‘Visa Express’ program. 92,018 travelled to Lesvos, 89,456 to Chios, and 72,739 to Samos.”

WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA

09/09/2024Taxi strike: The union representing taxi drivers in the capital region of Attica has announced a 24-hour strike starting at 5 a.m. on Monday. 10/09/2024UN General Assembly: The workings of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly will begin on Tuesday. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are set to meet on the sidelines. 10/09/2024Cyprus-Greece interconnector: Cypriot and Greek ministers will in Nicosia for a new round of talks on the electricity interconnection project. 11/09/2024Back to School: Wednesday marks the beginning of the new school year.

Editor's PickFor PASOK, the timing is overall positive, as it seems that, first of all, the main opposition SYRIZA is in a prolonged crisis, if not heading toward its ignominious end as a political force with claims to power.Vassilis NedosRead the article

PODCAST

03/09/2024 • 15:3750 years of PASOK: From Andreas into the 21st centuryToday, September 3rd, marks 50 years since Andreas Papandreou founded PASOK, a political party that came to play a key role in Greece from the restoration of democracy to the financial crisis. Harris Mylonas, an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University and the executive producer of the award-winning documentary Searching for Andreas: Political Leadership in Times of Crisis, joins Thanos Davelis to look into PASOK’s 50 year legacy, from its founding under the leadership of Andreas Papandreou to the challenges it faces today as it looks to redefine itself.

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