Conservative New Democracy Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said that business people should compare the ND party’s program with that of main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA). Addressing the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EVEA), he pledged a gradual reduction of business taxes from 25 % to 15%. He briefly reviewed the government’s activities and achievements while stressing that: “There has been a significant decline in unemployment, a reduction of public debt and we are now coming out of the memorandum.”
Mr. Samaras also referred to the developments that led to the election and the consequences for the economy, stressing that “a minority dragged the country to elections the majority did not want.”
Furthermore, Mr. Samaras referred to developments that led to elections and the consequences that this has had on the economy, while he further stressed that “a minority dragged the country to elections while the majority did not want this.”
He said that the tax for high-income earners had already been reduced from 45% to 42% and would be further reduced to 33%, while SYRIZA had called for this to be lifted to 60%. He pledged that there would be no more wage and pension reductions and he would not allow for primary home residences to be auctioned off to make debt repayments.
He pointed to the modernization of tax services, electronic filing and improvements in administration that had led to the public sector reducing expenditure by 34%.
Mr. Samaras reiterated his belief that SYRIZA’s proposals would bring a break with the EU and force the signing of a new loan memorandum that would overturn reforms and force more sacrifices.
