Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said in an interview with the OPEN television station referring to his candidacy in the B1 North Sector that the needs for the elections begin the day after the previous elections. “This is what we did at the party some years ago. For two years we went around the whole country. Now, it is important to communicate with the people and listen to their problems,”
he said.

The government spokesman spoke about various issues, including the elections, the country’s economic situation, the housing crisis, relations with Türkiye, and political cooperation.

Marinakis said that Greece is in a better economic situation than before, but many needs and problems remain. “In other words, there is no room for celebration, but neither is the opposition’s criticism of devaluation and a black image of Greece representative,” he said.

Regarding the increases in ferry tickets due to the new European directives, he said that at the moment a process is underway at the Shipping Ministry for the utilization of European funds to prevent citizens from receiving exorbitant increases.

Asked if the shipping companies are listening, he replied that “it will be seen from the result”, and then he spoke about the housing problem, noting that it is a very big issue. In this regard, he said that 63,500 citizens have applied for the “My House 2” programme and noted, among other things, that there are other programmes, such as the “Coverage” programme for the vulnerable, the housing allowance for students has been increased and there is also the “Refurbish My House” programme.

He also noted that the government has made six changes to the daily lives of citizens, which include charges on bank commissions and tax reductions. “This is a given, we have no illusions, but these are moves of substance that provide answers to the demands of citizens,” the government spokesman stressed.

Marinakis also spoke about Chevron‘s interest in exploring hydrocarbons southwest of the Peloponnese and west of Crete. “Greece is now becoming a global energy hub, this is of huge importance and if you talk in terms of economic, development and energy, Greece is becoming a stronger country,” he said.

In Kostas Karamanlis‘s speech yesterday on Greek-Turkish relations, the government spokesman said: “We have chosen not to comment on statements by former prime ministers, from then on making a broader discussion, not responding in any way, with all due respect to the former party chairman, to which I have belonged since I was a child, I wonder if there is even half a retreat that Greece has made, during the days of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, I will say during the days of the previous prime ministers, so as not to be misunderstood, but because I am responding for the government that I have the honor to represent. Alas, I stress this and what is it that this government has even hinted at, about concessions? I see the opposite. I see a Greece that was a pariah country in the previous years, because of the crises, a country that is beginning to play a leading role.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Marinakis said: “In a country which needs a lot more. So for us, this is our concern, this is our concern, this is our obligation. We respond to the citizens, with all due respect to the former prime ministers, and we listen to their opinions, you mean we don’t comment on them and every day we present our report.”

Asked about the possibility of governmental cooperation between the Southwest and PASOK, Marinakis called the discussion untimely and accused Androulakis of opening the debate. “We apologize for watching the television or listening to the radio interviews of the opposition leader and when we are asked by your colleagues, we comment. I am sorry, but we cannot avoid this,” he added and stressed: “We did not ask for any coalition, we want a strong mandate when the time comes, it is early.” He also said that there is no question of a coalition with parties to the right of the Southwest because of the positions and style they express.

On relations with the US, Marinakis stressed that our cooperation is strategic and rejected accusations that Greece is “on the outside”.

Finally, on the choices of Costas Tasoulas for the presidential election and Nikitas Kaklamanis for the presidency of the Parliament, the government spokesman said they were made based on their abilities and prestige and not to close internal fronts.

“The Prime Minister considered many very serious candidates that were heard from the center-left, center-right, and center, I do not know, I cannot confirm or deny any of the names. And Mr. Venizelos is a politician with a great track record, an active politician, who was also on the right side of history in the past years, so we find this attitude that we see from the opposition strange. He ended up with Mr. Tasoulas and I think it was an excellent choice,” he added after a question.