Mitsotakis at TIF: ‘I pledge to do everything I can to lead Greece out of the crisis’
New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis pledged on Saturday (18/09/2016) to do everything in his power to lead Greece out of the economic crisis, in a speech before representatives of various industry bodies at the 81st Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).
“I’m here to share with you, I understand the historic responsibility, I pledge to do everything I can to lead our country out of the crisis,” he said adding “he has no intention of promising money that isn’t there”. “I’m here to sign with every Greek an agreement of truth,” he said.
Mitsotakis started by pointing out that only a market economy can create wealth and its fair distribution adding the business community must play an important role and that the country needs to return to meritocracy, transparency and trust towards the institutions.
He said the party’s roadmap to restart the economy aims at creating jobs, cutting unemployment, boosting investments from the private sector and halting hiring in the public sector. “Jobs for the many and not for the party and their friends,” he said.
Introducing some of the measures he proposes, the leader of the main opposition said ND will save 1.5 billion euros from targeted interventions in the first year of governance. It will also cut a levy to support public television channel ERT and included in power utility bills by half, stressing that the broadcaster must stop operating as a propaganda tool.
Mitsotakis said the two billion euros of primary surpluses and a widening of the tax base will help the country “breathe”, but “the fiscal equilibrium must not be disrupted”.
On reforms in the public sector, he said there is room for cuts but that doesn’t mean layoffs. Instead his party will abolish state entities that no longer serve a function, while there will be no increases in public sector wages.
Another target is to increase exports to 40 percent of the GDP, from 30 percent today, which will require new policies, entrepreneurship and more risk-taking. “We need to win the confidence of the investors,” he said, stressing ND’s proposals are balanced and carefully counted.
Mentioning Greece’s relations with its lenders, he said he will not “blackmail then or beg” during negotiations, signaling an end to populism. He said that will balanced proposals, he will attempt to cut primary surplus targets from 3.5 percent to 2 percent.
“The system has failed spectacularly, there is revenue loss and tax evasion totaling many billion euros,” he said and criticized over taxation which proved socially unjust and ineffective. “No Greek can be over taxed to support the clientelism,” Mitsotakis said.
He said if the surplus target is lowered, then some taxes could be lowered: the unified property tax ENFIA will be slashed by 30 percent in a period of two years – 20 percent in the first year and 10 percent in the second. The tax on businesses will be lowered to 24 percent in the first year and 20 percent in the second, while tax on agricultural products will return to 13 percent. He also said the tax on fuel and wine will be abolished.
Mitsotakis said the next ND government will be a “government of the best” and “no concessions will be made in meritocracy”. “As a prime minister I will not tolerate any lack of reforms. The reform framework will be implemented fully and in a timely manner.”
He also attacked Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, saying he hasn’t learned anything and continues to divide Greeks and give irresponsible promises. “Enough with the populists who belittle our country … They lack the courage to tell the Greek people for the responsibilities he must assume. Let’s show them the exit, let’s send them to their homes, so we can breathe freely,” he said.
He also accused the government of undermining the country’s institutions and urged Greeks to end the vicious circle of populism. “I’m asking you to treat me like someone who works very hard for the interests of the many and not for the few,” he added.
