Changes at the Maximou , announced government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis in the shadow of the departures of Yannis Bratisakos and Stavros Papastavrou that left critical gaps in the government headquarters.
As he said during the briefing of the political editors “Makis Voridis additionally undertakes the regulation of issues of organization and operation of the Government and government bodies, and participates in the planning of legislative work.
Stelios Koutnatzis is appointed as the general secretary of the Prime Minister with the responsibilities of the General Secretariat as provided by law, as well as the editing of the legislative material on behalf of the Prime Minister”.
As protothema.gr had written, the prime minister has made an internal rearrangement.
Makis Voridis, in essence, takes over the regulation of issues of organization and operation of the government and government bodies (eg cabinet) in cooperation with Stelios Koutnatzis.
Stelios Koutnatzis assumes the responsibilities of the Prime Minister’s secretary.
That is, the position is reverted to the level of Secretary General from Deputy Minister and acquires more technocratic characteristics.
According to government sources, the already existing officials of Maximou continue with the responsibilities they had.
In addition, Akis Skertssos takes over the supervision and regulation of the organizations and bodies under the Prime Minister’s authority (e.g. the National Bioethics Committee, the National Committee for Human Rights, the National Committee for People with Disabilities) and Thanasis Kontogeorgis takes over the Special Secretariat for Long-Term Planning.
The Prime Minister’s advisor Thanasis Nezis is responsible, together with Mr. Koutnatzis, for communication with members of the Parliamentary Group, as well as for communication with the Prime Minister’s Office in Parliament and Civil Society.
Eleni Schina takes over as Director of the Prime Minister’s Private Office (together with the archives and protocol of the PM).
The Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, Pavlos Marinakis, continues to have media responsibilities, representing the Prime Minister and the government.
Full briefing by Pavlos Marinakis
By decision of the Prime Minister, the Minister of State Makis Voridis additionally assumes the regulation of issues related to the organization and functioning of the Government and government bodies, and participates in the planning of legislative work.
Stelios Koutnatzis is appointed General Secretary to the Prime Minister with the statutory responsibilities of the General Secretariat, as well as the editing of legislative material on behalf of the Prime Minister.
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As announced at the Cabinet meeting on Friday, the new minimum wage, which now stands at 830, up from 650 in 2019, will come into effect from today.
This means an increase of 27.7%, an additional 180 euros per month, compared to 2019. So 706 euros net per month.
On a 12-month basis, the minimum wage is 968 euros per month, an additional 210 euros compared to 2019. So 824 euros net per month.
In the year this increase amounts to 2,218 euros net, which is equivalent to 4 additional net wages in the employee’s pocket compared to 2019, on a 14-month basis.
The increase in the minimum wage brings upwards three years, bonuses and 13 categories of allowances and benefits, such as the regular unemployment allowance, the special maternity benefit, the parental leave allowance, the special allowance for vulnerable groups, the special seasonal allowance and the work allowance.
These four increases in the minimum wage more than cover the increase in inflation.
From 2019 to the end of 2024, cumulative inflation will be 16.5% and the change in the minimum wage is 27.7% on a gross basis and 28.9% on a net basis.
The average wage from 2019 to the end of 2023 has increased 19%. Over the same period cumulatively inflation has risen by 13%.
With this new increase, Greece rises to 11th place among the 22 European Union countries with a minimum wage.
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The Government, faithful to its commitments, continues its targeted actions and takes permanent, I stress, permanent measures to increase the income of all citizens.
We have increased the salaries of civil servants after 14 years, we have unfreezed the three-year pension for private sector workers, we have increased pensions, and all this in combination with a series of exceptional measures to help our most vulnerable citizens.
The global inflation crisis is affecting the budget of every household.
But we are here with a coherent, costed, carefully crafted economic policy that boosts the income of Greeks without derailing the country’s public finances.
