On today’s Holocaust Memorial Day, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, during the briefing of political editors, touched on various topics, including the resolution of agricultural loan issues through measures such as capital forgiveness, as well as the gatherings commemorating the Tempi tragedy.

“It is hard to remember such a tragic day as the day of Tempi. It is a collective trauma. Citizens are asking for justice. This will come from decisions of the judiciary, which will be delivered by judicial officials. Justice only from judges, not from TV panels or politicians,” he said of the Tempi rallies.

Continuing, he noted “We are living in the country of Montaziera, unfortunately, opposition parties are looking for a political lifeline through a tragic accident. It is repulsive. As dangerous as the cover-up is, so is the instrumentalization,” he said, adding that there will be a pre-dawn debate in Parliament on Tempi as requested by Famelos and the Prime Minister will go.

“The policemen received Molotov cocktails, they did not suddenly go crazy. They are workers too and they don’t get much,” he said, commenting on yesterday’s incidents and wishing the injured photojournalist well.

In detail the introductory statement of Pavlos Marinakis:

January 27, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Auschwitz-Birkenau camp by the Soviet army and commemorates the World and National Day of Remembrance of the Jewish Victims of the Holocaust.
Six million Jews were exterminated by the Nazis throughout Europe and among them 67,151 Greeks. We pay tribute to the victims of Nazi atrocities.

Today, with only a few of the survivors now with us, it is the duty of all of us and the burden of responsibility to pass on the respect, knowledge, and memory of the Holocaust to the younger generations, so that the most heinous crime, the mass murder against humanity itself during World War II, will never again be repeated.

We must intensify the collective struggle against anti-Semitism, racism, intolerance, and discrimination and work together for the peaceful coexistence of human beings.

The Ministry of Health’s bill to organize and operate the National Trauma System within the NHS structures, a long-standing demand of medical staff, is being introduced for discussion tomorrow in the plenary session of the Parliament. The bill provides

– the organisation and operation of Trauma Centres and two Children’s Trauma Centres

– the establishment of a National Trauma Commission for the evaluation of the Trauma Centres and Trauma Stations and the general monitoring of the National System

– and the training of qualified and specialist medical and nursing staff involved in the teams of Trauma Centres

The development of a National Trauma System, i.e. Centres and Stations as organised operational sites for the management and treatment of trauma within the health structures of the NHS is necessary to reduce the dispersal of trauma patients and to increase the speed and efficiency in providing treatment to them.

A solution to the issue of red agricultural loans is being provided through the introduction of a comprehensive framework of regulations, which are included in the Ministry of Rural Development and Food’s heraldic bill, which has been put out for public consultation.

The provisions of the draft law are expected to “relieve” more than 700 agricultural cooperatives and about 21,000 farmers. The key changes include the forgiveness of part of the loan principal under compromise solutions, the possibility of settlements based on the actual financial capacity of debtors, and priority in the management of these cases by qualified administrators.

Furthermore, transparency is enhanced with the obligation for liquidators to submit business plans to the Bank of Greece, while the new Special Liquidations Committee oversees the procedures, ensuring fair and viable solutions.
Beyond the regulations on red loans, the bill includes a wide range of provisions that strengthen the entire agricultural sector and help restart the rural economy.

The support framework includes measures to manage grazing land and accelerate the completion of grazing management plans. At the same time, measures are taken to manage fallen stock and animal by-products, enhancing the health security of production and protecting the environment from the effects of health crises. In addition, inter-branch organisations are given a new role, as provision is made for the collection of contributions from non-members, enhancing their financial viability and independence. At the same time, the National Council of Interprofessional Organisations (NACO) is established, which will act as a coordinating body and promote the demands of the agricultural sector.

An integrated greenhouse gas emission recording system is introduced in the agricultural sector, promoting green agriculture.

The operation of the Central Electronic Register of Cottage Industries is also envisaged, which will enhance transparency and facilitate producers in the production and marketing of high-value-added products.

The tender process for the right to explore and exploit hydrocarbons is launched, following the expression of interest by Chevron and HELLENiQ Energy. A decision by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Thodoris Skylakakis, specifies the exact boundaries of the marine areas for which this right is granted.

In the next few days, the Tender Notice will be published, following a recommendation from the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company, which concerns the licensing of new areas to award exclusive rights for hydrocarbon exploration and production.

This investment is a very important development that is part of the national strategy for energy independence and reduction of energy costs, with parallel initiatives for increased protection of the marine environment, the above development must be done with parallel care in terms of environmental footprint, to produce not only energy but also major environmental benefits for the country.

The extension of the IRIS direct payment system to all businesses is proceeding, so that legal entities will also be obliged to accept payments from citizens through this system. For this issue, there will be a regulation in the Ministry of National Economy and Finance’s draft law on the capital market, which will be put to public consultation shortly.

Besides, today, all citizens can activate the IRIS product in their bank’s mobile application and carry out direct money transfers with other citizens up to 500 euros per day without bank commissions. In addition, with a recent legislative initiative of the Government, freelancers and self-employed persons are now obliged to accept direct payments from their customers and in this way pay significantly lower commissions compared to those they would pay if the transaction was carried out through the use of POS.

The IRIS direct payment system is now part of the everyday life of 3.5 million citizens and 560,000 registered professionals with a very significant penetration of electronic transactions, as reflected by official data from DIAS S.A.

In 2024, a 137% increase in IRIS transactions (57.3 million) was recorded, with a total value of €6.1 billion, while 65% of users belong to the 18-35 age group.

A significant increase in recorded overtime is recorded by the Digital Job Card in the sectors where it is implemented.
According to data from the ERGANI system, overtime in the industries implementing the measure increased by a cumulative 815,509 compared to the years before the measure was implemented.

For illustrative purposes, recorded overtime increased:

-In supermarkets by 60%.
-In banks by 38.3%.
-In security companies by 27.8%.
-In industry by 34.3%.
– In retail by 28.1%.

In addition, it is important to stress that since last September, the Digital Work Card has been piloted in tourism and catering, while its universal implementation in these sectors will start on March 1, 2025. After the full implementation of the card in both of these sectors, a total of around 1,500,000 workers will be protected from undeclared overtime.

On Wednesday, January 29, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Microsoft Data Center.
On Thursday, January 30, the Prime Minister will attend the funeral of Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres, and All of Albania.