SYRIZA's Tsapanidou: The only solution for the citizens are the general elections

Newly appointed spokesperson for main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Popi Tsapanidou, expressed the opinion in an interview on Monday with radio "Sto Kokkino" that only the general elections will provide a solution for the citizens' problems, such as high prices and profiteering.

She noted that the people, after four years of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government, now understand what is happening. People were unable to meet their basic needs, their incomes were ravaged by high prices and they hesitated to turn on the heating to get warm, she pointed out, and those responsible for all these things were the Mitsotakis government, who would soon be asking people for their vote.

"The megawatt-hour [of electricity] in Greece is very expensive and price gouging is at its peak at the expense of households and enterprises. This is happening at a time when the price of natural gas has dropped to unbelievably low rates and I do not understand why we are paying so much for it in this country for over 20 days. At the same time, I do not understand why the prices of goods are dropping internationally while in Greece they get higher".

According to Tsapanidou, "the way we approach the solution to the above problems should change and we should not blame everything on international developments and difficulties. Checks are essential for prices to reach an equilibrium, VAT must be reduced and, of course, an increase of wages is necessary. This is why SYRIZA has called for wage adjustments in line with the consumer price index, so that citizens get some relief and their purchasing power increases".

Finally, on the funeral of the deposed king Constantine and the scenes playing out in the centre of Athens, Tsapanidou expressed her condolences to the family but accused the media of "attempting a change of agenda" as criticised the way that "the public broadcaster is covering the funeral of a private citizen".