A fierce debate unfolded in the Parliament’s plenary session between Adonis Georgiadis and Nikos Androulakis over afternoon surgeries, VAT reduction, and increased municipal fees by the City of Athens. The Minister of Health invited the PASOK leader to visit five hospitals today where free afternoon surgeries are being launched, reminding him that his party did not support the relevant regulation. Mr. Androulakis partially shifted his stance, stating that PASOK is not opposed to afternoon surgeries, which is why they voted “present” rather than “against.”

Mikis Voridis also intervened in the discussion to respond to PASOK’s revived proposal for a VAT reduction.

The Minister of State presented data from the Bank of Spain and the Spanish Consumer Institute, showing that a similar VAT reduction in Spain did not lower prices but only reduced revenues. “You’re in the opposition and can afford to say a bit more, I get it,” Mr. Voridis commented, adding, however, that the only field where PASOK governs—the City of Athens—its officials rushed to raise taxes instead of lowering them. “Mr. Doukas is the mastermind behind the increase in municipal fees. You, who claim to care about citizens’ incomes, have one policymaker, and he’s taking money from people’s pockets. While you announce cheerful measures, the government reduces taxes. I’m not just talking about the 50 already reduced but also the ones you’ll be called to vote on soon—we’ll see how you respond.”

The clash began with Mr. Androulakis reiterating PASOK’s amendment to include only nursing staff and ambulance crews in the hazardous and arduous work category, rather than all healthcare personnel as previously proposed.

“When we proposed including all staff in the hazardous category, the Minister accused us and said he’d only cover nurses. We’re making it easy for you. The amendment we’re submitting today concerns nurses in the public health system and ambulance crews. We urge the government and the minister to support it. If you refuse, it’s clear you’re building yet another monument to unreliability.”

Elsewhere, Mr. Androulakis revived PASOK’s proposal for VAT reduction on basic goods. “We’ve shown it doesn’t cost €2 billion. In Spain, a similar measure cost €2 billion for a much larger population and tourist sector,” he noted, reminding the chamber that Prime Minister Mitsotakis had made a similar proposal in 2010 and 2019.

“It takes two to tango. We’re making the first move; now it’s your turn,” the PASOK leader said, calling on the government to adopt two proposals:

• A complete freeze on the Golden Visa in areas with rising rents.
• Taxation of banks’ windfall profits, with a 5-10% levy generating €400-800 million. In two years, this could bring in €1.6 billion, aiding vulnerable citizens.

Taking the floor, Mr. Georgiadis responded, “I’m saddened by PASOK’s current trajectory. Don’t lecture me on social justice. Come with me at 3:30 PM to Agios Savvas Hospital, where free afternoon surgeries are beginning. Look the patients in the eye and tell them you don’t want these surgeries, which is why you voted against the regulation. Let me take you to five hospitals today to see how many people will benefit.”

On the amendment, Georgiadis stressed that he had already pledged twice—before PASOK’s submission—to include nurses in the hazardous category.

However, he added, “Mr. Androulakis, your initial amendment sought to include all healthcare personnel, which I explained would blow up the public health system. The next day, even Ms. Diamantopoulou came out and said not everyone could be included, only some. Today, you adopt my and Diamantopoulou’s proposal. Bravo. Thanks to Ms. Diamantopoulou for steering you correctly. After 22 attempts with the wrong amendment, today, you’ve done the right thing, but I’ve already announced and committed to it.”

Mr. Androulakis countered, “The free afternoon surgeries are a result of the Recovery Fund’s revision. From this very podium, the Prime Minister accused me of deserving the Nobel for cluelessness when I urged you to revise it and support public health. Are we against afternoon surgeries? If we were, we’d have voted against, not ‘present.’”

Mikis Voridis also weighed in on PASOK’s VAT reduction proposal.

“You’ve brought back the VAT reduction debate. This isn’t some ideological hill for us. We’re fine with tax cuts as a strategic direction. It’s refreshing to see a socialist party advocating tax reductions. But does this proposal work? You believe cutting VAT lowers prices, benefiting consumers. Do we have evidence? Did it work elsewhere? You cite Spain. Spain has higher food prices than Greece. Reports from the Spanish Central Bank and Consumer Institute say VAT cuts had zero impact on prices. Instead, they recommend increased market inspections. It didn’t work.”

Voridis further noted that even if VAT cuts theoretically worked, the benefit to consumers would be minimal. “For a €50 basket, you’d save €1. Have we solved the inflation problem? But we’d lose revenue. Have we solved anything?” he asked rhetorically.

“I don’t accuse you of ignorance, but of populism, Mr. Androulakis,” Voridis continued, adding, “As opposition, you can afford to talk big. But your one policymaker—the Mayor of Athens—follows a different philosophy. Either he’s not on the same page, or someone’s fooling us. Mr. Doukas is the architect of municipal fee hikes. You, who claim to care for citizens’ incomes, have one official implementing policy, and he’s taking from people’s pockets.”